IT’S just as well that Brok Harris is the cornerstone of Newport Gwent Dragons’ improving scrum rather than Euan Murray.

Were it the Scotland international that was wearing 3 on his back then he would have been facing a spell on the sidelines.

The tighthead, who is currently with Glasgow Warriors, doesn’t play on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.

It has meant Murray has sat out a number of important games through the years, most recently his club’s crunch European Rugby Champions Cup decider against Bath, and the 34-year-old will not be available for the Six Nations clash with Scotland next weekend.

Thankfully Harris dons his boots on Sundays because the Dragons are currently on a run of six successive games on the Sabbath.

Last week it was Exeter, this week it’s London Welsh then it’s Leinster (a), Ulster (h), Zebre (a) and Connacht (h), all on Sundays in the Guinness Pro12.

The two Rodney Parade league encounters are live on S4C and their scheduled timeslot has made a habit of ruining the atmosphere at all four regional grounds this season whereas BBC Northern Ireland’s regular Friday night rugby (a slot the Dragons prefer) allows Ulster to benefit from a boisterous backing.

Forget those that part with their cash every summer to buy season tickets, a game has to be played on a Sunday to please the folk that feel an entitlement to have free sport beamed into their living rooms.

There was plenty of wailing when the idea was mooted of the BBC losing the rights to the Six Nations then a storm when Sky won a contract to show The Open.

The argument trotted out is that a youngster won’t be inspired to take up sport because they can’t see it live for free. That same youngster who no doubt wanders around in a Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey jersey...

The paying fan is already taken for a mug by the television companies so why shouldn’t sporting organisations get as much loot as they can out of deals?