Anderton joins exodus at SRU

Scottish Rugby's civil war claimed two more victims yesterday with the resignation of the chief executive, Phil Anderton, and Iain Brown, the schools representative on the general committee, taking the number of casualties to six.

Scottish Rugby's civil war claimed two more victims yesterday with the resignation of the chief executive, Phil Anderton, and Iain Brown, the schools representative on the general committee, taking the number of casualties to six.

Anderton's departure follows the resignation of chairman David Mackay - to be replaced by Fred McLeod - after a vote of no confidence in him on Monday. His departure was promptly followed by that of three non-executive directors. But Anderton is prepared to fight his way back. "The reason for my going is to make clubs aware of the need to turn around the disgraceful decision that has taken place by misrepresentation of their views," he said.

James Simpson-Daniel is unlikely to make his long-awaited return for Gloucester in their crucial European Cup Pool 6 match against Stade Français at Kingsholm on Sunday.

The England winger had been hoping to be given the all-clear following an operation before Christmas to repair an injured shoulder, but Nigel Melville, the Gloucester director of rugby said: "He is a doubt because the surgeon is concerned about letting him play. He would love to be involved and has done very well in recent weeks but if he suffered a dislocation, it would be six months out." However, the fly-half Duncan McRae is almost certain to return after recovering from neck and knee problems.

Wasps' charismatic hooker Trevor Leota will face Biarritz in France on Saturday. It is the Samoan's first appearance since November, during which time he battled ear and knee problems.

The former Italy captain, Alessandro Troncon has been called into a 30-man training squad for a get-together in Viadana on 16-18 January, by coach John Kirwan. Troncon walked out of the squad last autumn when Kirwan made Marco Bortolami captain, saying that Troncon needed to concentrate on his game.