Kevin Greene is to stay on in Scotland until after Glasgow's game with Leicester in the first week in November, and he has also informed us that straight after Glasgow's 30-15 defeat of Ulster on Sunday he was offered the job of being director of rugby - for Ulster.

''The job description from Ulster landed on my desk this week after they spoke to me at Scotstoun when the game was over. They said they needed a new direction,'' said Greene. ''I am flattered, but I won't be taking up the position. I spoke to Jim Telfer this week and agreed that I will stay in Scotland to see Glasgow's game with Leicester through, and then go back to New Zealand.

''We are keen that the Silver Thistles tourists carry on, and we are to investigate the possibility of taking coaches over there as well to learn what they do. I suppose, to some extent, I will be an agent for Scotland back home.''

And, thankfully, not in Belfast.

This campaign shows what utter nonsense it is to have the qualification for next year's European competition immediately after this one. Glasgow must concentrate on playing Leicester, while the other districts will delight in toppling Glasgow.

Glasgow could end up having to play in next year's conference. Any way, they should be taken to a training camp to prepare for the Leicester game. It's big time now.

q The nine-iron award goes to Jim Hay, Scotland and Hawick hooker, who has just become the proud father of a little girl called Alexandra. His baby daughter is, of course, called Alex for short.

Now, Alex Hay is a rather well-known golf commentator, and a Diary spy has told us on father Jim's first venture to a training session immediately after the birth he was greeted, by an anonymous player, with: ''How's young Alex Hay? Is she sitting up a little?''

q The don't tie your shoelaces award goes to the three Scottish referees who were in charge of the game at Toulon last week.

Stand up Ian Ramage, who whistled the game, and touch judges Colin Henderson and Ian Pirrie. The three happily checked into their three-star, cash-only hotel in the bustling French town and eagerly awaited the game.

Looking for some light relief, they went down to the hotel's pool, to be confronted by the disturbing sight of three naked men holding hands and frolicking in the pool.

Our stoic Scottish chaps were very wary indeed and, wisely in our view, kept their trunks on.

It transpires that the pride of Scottish refereeing had checked into a well-known gay hotel.

q Had the pleasure of seeing Stephen King again.

Stephen is the world's best Highland Games hammer thrower, and a man who trains in a field up the back of Inverary and manages to beat the best of the Australian and American track and field college system at the Highland Games in the process.

The Aussies and Yanks are, bizarrely, sponsored by Scottish whisky companies to come here while our own lads get nothing.

Anyway, it was recently that Stephen threw such a long one that it went further than the existing world record. He was so pleased he phoned his nephew, a wee youngster, to tell him the joyful news.

''I've broken a world record,'' said Stephen excitedly to the nipper over the phone.

''Aw, Uncle Stephen,'' came the reply. ''What did you want to break something for. Can it be fixed?''

Sadly, it was fixed. His hammer turned out to be some ounces light. Next time. And, to any sponsors there who would want to, please back the man, will you?

q Someone calling themselves ''A N Other Clype,'' from Clydesdale rugby club in Larkhall, has written to us with more on the strange goings-on at Shawlands rugby club, their some-time opponents.

Without for one moment suggesting Shawlands are merely playing half of the Cartha Queen's Park side in their team, A N Other Clype suggests, instead, that the Shawlands players benefited from the sale of a job lot of Cartha jerseys and socks at knock-down prices in Sue Ryder shops.

That is their explanation, but to prove a point the Clydesdale barman would only give post-match pies and pints to those not wearing Cartha finery in the bar.

And to give us the lowdown on Clydesdale, the club, the Clype writes: ''With the exception of some of our players having to change their first names, moving to Larkhall has been a success so far!''