The Scottish Rugby Union has revealed plans for two more professional teams in a major re-vamp of the domestic game in Scotland.

The SRU, who will undertake a series of roadshows later this month to outline their vision of the professional game, want to introduce a third professional team in the Borders from season 2002/2003.

From season 2001/2002 the existing Edinburgh and Glasgow pro-teams in will be based solely in the cities whose name they bear.

The Union wants to introduce a fourth team in Caledonia when financial, player-strength and commercial criteria are met, which it expects to be within five years.

All next season's Scotland A and under-21 internationals will be played in the Borders and Caledonia, then from season 2002/2003 until the fourth team is introduced, only in Caledonia.

SRU chief executive Bill Watson denied that the developments would be made at the costs of the club game.

Watson, who confirmed that the expanded Celtic League would begin on Saturday 18 August, said: "The key planks of our strategy for the professional game are the subject of motions we have put forward to our annual general meeting on Friday 29 June, therefore Scottish rugby will decide on the way ahead.

"We have confidence in our vision and we will be taking our case around the country.

"I would seek to repudiate at this stage is that in advocating this route we are, in any way, party to the 'death of club rugby', as some critics have suggested. That is not something any of us could ever contemplate.

"At present, I cannot envisage any more than, on average, two players per club in Premier Division 1 being recruited for the third professional team and with players returning from professional to club ranks and recruitment occurring from outside Scotland's boundaries, that number could be, on average, one player per club.

"The fact of the matter, too, is that unless we provide opportunities for our best players, the world is their oyster in a professional game and they could be lost to Scottish rugby.

"We know that 75% of our revenue comes from the international arena and that we must do our very best to ensure that the team which represents Scotland in that arena is best prepared and ready to meet that challenge.

"Financial affordability is, of course, a pre-requisite for this strategy and we believe that Scottish rugby can deliver.

"At present, our professional player base is too small and it is essential that we develop a minimum pool of 90-100 players to have five to six players competing for each position in the national side. We're confident that we can assemble a third team with sufficient competitive playing strength.

"We must provide the opportunity for young Scots who want to have rugby as their career to follow that career in Scotland. Indeed, we must aim to keep our top players in Scotland and to bring back Exiles.

"It is important, of course, that we continue to work with clubs in ensuring the new talent is nurtured to sustain the adult game in the future.

"We are working in tandem with clubs, the Scottish Executive, local authorities and our team
of development officers to make that happen.

"Clubs are the bedrock of our game and our investment in the club game will continue to grow. I am delighted to confirm today that any club which has nurtured a player subsequently offered a professional contract for season 2002/2003 will receive a maximum of £10,000 - a significant sum for club rugby finances."

The SRU roadshows will take in all five home-based districts before the deadline of 21 May for submission of amendments to motions to the Union's AGM. Exact venues have still to be finalised.

SRU roadshows:

Monday 14 May - EDINBURGH - 7.30pm
Tuesday 15 May - SCOTTISH BORDERS - 7.30pm
Wednesday 16 May - GLASGOW - 7.30pm
Thursday 17 May - MIDLANDS - 7.30pm
Saturday 19 May - NORTH - North District conference in Elgin - am/pm