Aberdeen Grammar’s Ciaran Wood admitted he would love to see his former club Highland in the same division as them next season.
Wood moved from Canal Park to Grammar in the summer, following the end of his probationary period as a teacher, and is pleased to see his old side performing well at the top end of National 2.
The restructuring of Scottish rugby at the end of the season may put that hope on hold for another year, with the advent of the Super 6 likely to see National 1 reshuffled.
Grammar played Highland in the National League Cup at the start of the last campaign and were beaten through in Inverness, which has prompted some social media sparring between the two clubs in the wake of Wood’s departure.
Stand-off Wood said: “There’s been a bit over social media and with the cup game last year going Highland’s way. It’s all in good nature and just a bit of a laugh at the end of the day. It’s nothing serious – a lot of the boys are happy for me to be playing in National 1 and making the step up in terms of leagues.
“Them coming up is probably needed in this day of social media, to put everyone’s blood to the test. Both teams would go all out for the result if that was to happen. Having played there last season it’s great to see them doing well. I’d love nothing more than for us and Highland to be in the same league next season, if that’s how the structure ends up.”
Wood was teaching on the Isle of Skye and travelling to Inverness on Thursdays to be part of the Highland squad. He was reposted to Ellon in the summer and spoke to Grammar head coach Ali O’Connor about coming on board, which did not take long to convince him.
He added: “I obviously had a few teams to choose from but I spoke to Ali and he only had positive things to say. It’s been a great club to join and the whole club have been welcoming. Since the start of the season we’ve been playing a really good brand of rugby, a similar brand to what I was playing at Highland. In terms of the welcome from the club and the results, it’s been a positive experience.”
Grammar are at home to second-placed Marr this weekend, on the back of a narrow defeat in the Borders against Selkirk last weekend.
Wood said: “This is a really big game and to get a result over a team that is doing well would be great. We’ve been unfortunate with two results away from home that we’ve lost but on the flipside, there’s definitely a lot of positives. As a team, we’re performing well.”
