AFTER all the comings and goings of the last few weeks, hasn't it been nice to read the papers and not feel the back-biting and in-fighting between the various factions concerned with the way forward for Scottish rugby.

The chief executive posts have been advertised for all four Districts, and reading through the job specifications, I'm not sure Superman would be well enough qualified for the responsibilities detailed.

The selectors, meanwhile, have named some interesting choices for the Scotland XV tour to South Africa this summer, and none more so than centres Jamie Mayer and Cammie Murray from Watsonians and Hawick respectively. This will be the biggest test these fine players have faced in their young lives, but what an opportunity at the same time to push themselves towards a full cap.

The experience offered by the likes of Rowen Shepherd, Ronnie Eriksson, Craig Chalmers, Andy Nicol, Dave Hilton, Stewart Campbell and a likely back row of Walton, Peters and Smith will be invaluable. The three Friday fixtures will be fierce, as Transvaal, Northern and Eastern Province will be getting ready for the start of the Currie Cup, South Africa's premier Provincial competition. This will be a great learning opportunity and with many of the domestic players on SRU contracts and the exile players full time in the main, there can be no excuses for poor performances.

I am a firm believer in including young players for overseas competition, because how else do they learn? On tour there is no hiding place. On Scotland's tour to Australia in 1992, I only managed one and a half games on the eight-match schedule and yet still survived to stay the whole trip. A baseball cap was presented to me at the end of tour party with the words ''Camp Australia,'' implying my holiday status assumed over the previous four and a half weeks. Touring is one of the great privileges of a rugby player and for everyone involved being in South Africa at the same time as the Lions Tour will be something special. I wonder if one or two will be invited into the Lions' den if injuries occur. Let's hope so.

As for the quarter-finals of the Tennents Cup this weekend, there are some cracking ties in prospect, not least of which is at Meggetland between old rivals Boroughmuir and Watsonians. The home side's disappointing season will be complete if they fail to overcome last year's beaten finalists, although after their last encounter no-one can reasonably predict the winner. A last-second try by Scott Hastings spared Watsonians' blushes and enabled their title challenge to remain on course.

Melrose travel to Burnbrae to assess West of Scotland's aspirations after securing promotion into Division I of the Premiership. This is an important game for the home side who clinched the runners-up spot with a last gasp penalty from evergreen Dave Barett, a person for whom professional rugby just would not suit - any more laid back and he'd be horizontal. For those advocates of club rugby it will be interesting to see what sort of crowd turns up. This is Glasgow v The South in everything other than name.

Kirkcaldy take on Dundee in the battle of Midlands rugby and despite the visitors being in the higher division, Kirkcaldy were the third highest scorers in the Premiership and in tries scored.

Buoyed up Peebles take on once mighty Heriot's in the last of the quarter-final ties and they will fancy their chances against a side creaking at the seams. Their fabulous set up at Gytes Leisure Centre is testament to their ambition and forward thinking and any club with similar aspirations should take the opportunity to view their first class facilities. Peebles thrust themselves into one of the country's top 20 clubs courtesy of their away victory against already promoted Kilmarnock, and a crack at Heriot's will determine just how far they have come.

The sponsors have done a fabulous job stirring up interest in the competition and finals day at Murrayfield on May 10 will be a great day out.

My old team, the Scottish Claymores, also offer a Murrayfield experience not to be missed. They play two successive Sunday matches against Barcelona and Rhein Fire at the great stadium. Good luck to them, especially Gary Parker.

What price for a Watsonians and Claymores victory on both days?