Chalmers is now coaching Melrose, the club with whom he made his name in the 1990s, and believes top young players are finding it difficult to make the breakthrough into the paid ranks.

One of the heroes of the 1989 Lions Test series, Chalmers feels too many modestly-talented foreigners are taking up professional contracts which could be handed to Scottish youngsters.

Chalmers, Scotland’s Grand Slam stand-off in the famous winner-takes-all match against England in 1990, also lamented the lack of a professional side in the Borders.

After coaching Melrose to Scottish Cup glory he said: “We rely too heavily on bringing in foreigners. New Zealanders and South Africans come and they go.

“We need avenues for young Scottish players. Don’t have them go to England because once they go down there they won’t come back.

“Keep them here and give them a good level of rugby. That’s what we should be doing.

“If I was a professional coach I would be watching club games on a Saturday – but I have never seen a pro coach at a club game.”