As usual I start the column with the proviso that nothing, but nothing, in rugby or any other sport should be treated with any great seriousness at this time. The news yesterday that six players in three top English clubs had tested positive on their return to training shows just how idiotic it is to be playing any team sport at any level currently. What bit of ‘virus’ and ‘pandemic’ do people not get?

This week we have also seen the sickening and very public spectacle of Scottish football tying itself in knots over the inevitable decision to call time on a season that might not have ended to next year the ways things are going.

The joker in the pack is Scottish Rugby, who called their league season early and got it right. The powers-that-be decided that the 2019-20 league season should be declared null and void back in March with no promotion or relegation. That was exceptionally hard on Biggar, who had already won National League One after a brilliant season, but I cannot disagree with the SRU on this one – they consulted the clubs and the only option for which there was clear support was null and void.

It has annoyed a lot of people, but the decision stands and clubs are already moving on. So why did Scottish football mess things up?

For numerous reasons, mostly to do with cash and contracts, null and void was never really on the table. It was the right decision by all the Premiership clubs to conclude that the season was over, thus triggering the SPFL board’s decision to make Celtic champions and relegate Hearts, though every effort should be made to reconstruct the leagues as relegation is way too big a penalty for Hearts to pay.

I am assured that yesterday’s announcement that Rangers won’t be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over “alleged new evidence regarding representations received prior to the awarding of a European licence for season 2011/12” was in no way a quid pro quo for the Ibrox club’s acquiescence to the end of the season, a vote that has angered a lot of Bears I know. “They should at least have abstained,” one pal told me.

What is clear is that the SPFL prize money payout was essential for the survival of some clubs – at least one has already discussed administration – and it was hard cash that drove the decision of so many other SPFL clubs to go along with the board’s ‘end of league’ scheme.

Null and void would have caused more trouble than it was worth. For example, would prize money have been distributed at all, and on what basis – equal shares? And since participation in European competition depends on where you finish in the Premiership, just who would have been nominated for the Champions League and Europa League places? Maybe all the club captains or managers could have gathered two metres apart and drawn from a pack of 12 cards with the placings decided on the numbers drawn – King high and no aces, of course.

It goes against the grain to say this, but eventually Scottish rugby and football did the right thing by their sports with their so very different circumstances... At least the SRU showed the SPFL the way by making the call early. I wanted all rugby and football matches just postponed, but the pandemic is not going away any time soon so the season must end, and that’s a crying shame for rugby and football, yet still not a real concern in the scope of things.

So let’s concentrate on the positive news from rugby in Scotland. Across Scottish rugby, more and more clubs are tackling the coronavirus pandemic and its myriad problems in useful and innovative ways.

I have heard of clubs organising food deliveries for vulnerable people in their areas, and others have been collecting for foodbanks.

It’s the kind of community spirit that Scotland is showing in so many ways, and you’ll forgive me if I highlight a superb innovation by a real community club, the one I played for, Lismore RFC.

Based in the Inch Park on the south side of Edinburgh, Lismore have come up with a cracking idea to help players and local people keep fit safely.

Basically the club has used Inch Park’s extensive acres to come up with a social distancing Rugby/Football Golf Course, promoting health and wellbeing in lockdown.

The 10 ‘hole’ course – the holes are actually spray-painted marks – allows people taking their daily exercise to easily maintain social distancing while enjoying a different fitness challenge. The aim of the game in this hybrid sport is to reach the end target in the least kicks possible using a rugby ball or football. Bring your own rugby ball or football and tee off to try and match or better the par for the course which is 42 – and no, it’s not an easy score to beat.

The brainchild of Lismore’s Volunteer Youth Coach Hamish Skene, each hole has been named after former and current club members such as the late John Main and Dave Quinn. The scorecard and course map can be downloaded from Lismore’s Facebook Page.

As I am in lockdown I can’t visit it, but some friends have done so and they told me it’s just a great fun experience. Worth a try elsewhere?