Jeff Probyn: London Scottish link with Scotland raises plenty of problems

What a week we've had. First an announcement that could create some interesting changes for the outcome of the Six Nations over the next few years and then Eddie Jones' first chance to change at least some of the players that were part of Stuart Lancaster's last squad.
The announcement that London Scottish are to be integrated into the development structure of the Scottish Rugby Union is both interesting and worrying.
Interesting, because it shows a bit of ‘blue sky' thinking by the SRU to the problem they have in both finding and developing young Scottish talent that resides ‘down south'. First impressions are that it is a good idea as the club already exist, therefore saving the SRU from having to fund the creation of a new regional side in the south and find a stadium for them to play in. It's also interesting because if it works it would potentially allow Scotland's players access to both premier leagues (Premiership and Pro12) in these islands.
Worrying, because there are any number of possible problems that have yet to be faced, not least – which league London Scottish will be allowed to play in?
It could be that the club would choose   to continue in the English league system or look to join the Pro12 along with the other regions – but either way, it will not be their choice alone.
Despite the number of non-English players in our leagues, the clubs they play for are still essentially English. London Scottish would, in effect, be a Scottish regional team and as such I believe it would be very difficult for the RFU to allow them to continue playing in the English leagues.
Clubs in the Championship, where London Scottish now reside, receive money from the RFU and it would seem odd to me that the RFU would be willing to fund another country's development programme.
It could lead to English clubs in the National Leagues asking for one of them to have the London Scottish slot and funding, legitimately claiming they are helping develop players for England.
It is also not without possible dangers for the SRU, as all players living and playing in London would also qualify under World Rugby's residency rule to play for England and, given the RFU currently pay the highest match fees in world rugby, some may choose that option.
Other questions include: where would the players be registered and who would insure them, the RFU or the SRU?
Moving to the Pro12 would also have its problems, not least incurring much higher travel costs than continuing in the Championship, resulting in the need for a substantial injection of cash every year just to survive.
London Welsh have said they would like a similar arrangement with the WRU and would consider a Pro12 move with London Scottish in place of the two Italian teams should they decide to leave, or if the league is expanded and the money is right.
The thing is, for the money to be ‘right', it would have to be substantially more than they currently receive from the RFU but that would rely on the agreement of the other competing countries allowing in two untried teams currently competing in the English second tier.
The exile teams have, over the years, supplied a number of players to their home countries but that was on what could be called an informal basis. By making a formal link with their home unions they risk alienation from their traditional home in the English leagues.
*I am a bit puzzled by reports that Eddie Jones has picked a squad of 33 players when he has in fact picked 37 players. Admittedly, four are injured but even so, he has picked them as part of the squad and they could conceivably play a part in the Six Nations.
I would assume that Jones will want all 37 at England's sessions so as to spread the new gospel of play according to Eddie as far as he can.
Of course, despite the glowing praise for his ‘brutal cull' of some of the big names of Stuart Lancaster's tenure, the  probability is, Eddie having spoken to Stuart, took some advice as to who he was looking to replace and with whom after the World Cup.
After every World Cup there is a cull of players as coaches begin rebuilding for the next Cup and that process can be particularly tough on the older players as coaches try to estimate who will still be at their best in four years.
As the first foreign coach, Jones would have had a major disadvantage when it came to choosing the up-and-coming youngsters of the game.  He was in Japan and then South Africa so I doubt he would have seen much of the Premiership or Champions Cup.
He would not have had the opportunity to see the likes of Josh Beaumont, Maro Itoje, Sam Hill, Jack Clifford, Elliot Daly, Ollie Devoto and Paul Hill play often enough to make a truly subjective decision as to their potential as international players.
It's going to be interesting seeing how successful Stuart's squad will be playing Eddie's style in the coming Six Nations.