THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON
SCOTTISH club rugby is gearing up for a new season in which a new sponsor, new harmony with the governing body and the Rugby World Cup could ignite new growth in the oval-ball game.

That is the belief of Jock Millican, the former Heriot's president and now secretary of the Premier One Forum, which is improving clubs' relations with the SRU.

Iframes/JavaScript Tags: Millican has witnessed bitter feuding between clubs and the union over the past decade, but at yesterday's launch of the new club season, which kicks off on Saturday, he admitted there was a much more positive feel about the club game.

Part of that stems from the union's ability to uncover a new sponsor in Scottish Hydro Electric, last season being the first in the national league's 33-year history to have no title sponsor.

Millican said: "It's great for club rugby that Scottish Hydro Electric have come on board, and the initial reaction has been very positive because they and the SRU have tried to involve everybody working together to improve the club game.

"Prize money has been a big issue for clubs and it will come up again, though it's not about clubs wanting tens of thousands of pounds, just recognition for the efforts of a club that has won the league or cup. In some ways, the financial aspect has been a barrier in recent years, but I believe that the money should be a caveat for clubs doing something in return, to improve the game."

In essence, that is exactly what the SRU and SHE have striven for in the new deal, to distribute the sponsorship monies as far and wide as possible, and to clubs who prove they are improving the numbers and quality of players in their areas - a key area holding back Scottish rugby.

Colin Thomson, the SRU's Head of Community Rugby, stated: "Last season, clubs and schools, working in tandem with [the SRU], local authorities and other key stakeholders, were able to deliver a seven per cent increase in adult playing numbers and 19 per cent increase in youths playing the game.

"This season, on the back of the increased exposure the game will receive in the media through the Rugby World Cup and the involvement of a pro-active partner in Scottish Hydro Electric in our community game, we have a golden opportunity to further encourage more people, men and women, to become involved in rugby."

A total of 33 Edinburgh and Glasgow professionals will be made available to Division One clubs this season.

This article was posted on 30-Aug-2007, 07:23 by Hugh Barrow.