THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

By DUNCAN SMITH
LEADING figures in Scottish rugby have told politicians that improved facilities are a key priority in the bid to help boost participation and excellence in the sport.

Holyrood went to Murrayfield yesterday in the shape of the Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee to continue its 'Pathways into Sport' inquiry, which seeks to facilitate Scotland fulfilling its sporting potential at all levels of participation, from recreational amateurs to elite professionals. The committee has already heard evidence from Rhona Martin, MBE, Liz McColgan, Craig Brewster and Shirley Robertson, OBE.

Seven witnesses, including SRU chief executive Gordon McKie and former Scotland player Gregor Townsend, gave evidence to the committee highlighting the pathways work undertaken by Scottish rugby in recent years, future plans and how, in their opinion, politicians and government can assist the game's development.

When asked what the main inhibitors to participation and pathways to success in Scottish rugby are, both Townsend and McKie highlighted the dearth of quality facilities.

The 82-times capped former stand-off, now a programme manager at the Scottish Institute of Sport Foundation, called for more all-weather training facilities and McKie agreed that this was a pressing priority for the game's development.

The chief executive said: "We are talking to one or two local authorities about the modern 4G synthetic pitches, which provide greater access and the ability to train and prepare properly in the winter months. And we are also looking to get one here at Murrayfield.

"It is clear to me from when I go on my road trips around the country that facilities are no good and it's important that we communicate to our stakeholders what we are doing in this area.

"For example we have moved the autumn Test against Canada to Aberdeen, not because they offered us money, we don't want money. We have come to an arrangement where, in return for giving the game to Aberdeen, the City Council there will invest in improving facilities in the north-east."

McKie added: "Now that Scottish Rugby is, dare I say it, financially robust, there is assistance available for clubs to improve their lot in terms of facilities or a club development officer and help make themselves far more visible to the local community."

While the union and local authorities had an important part to play in this field, Townsend added: "Clubs must take some responsibility themselves. Back in the amateur days there was a revenue cake and the clubs got the majority of it, now in the professional era they get less.

"The most successful clubs are ones taking responsibility for growing game themselves in conjunction with the SRU and not looking for hand-outs. More clubs outside the Borders for example are running sevens tournaments and the like and coming up with innovative ways to raise funds."

Townsend also made the point that the decline in TV coverage of the domestic game was denying an opportunity to promote rugby to children. One of the committee members Dr Richard Simpson MSP noted that it was often the case that digital viewers in Scotland had to go through BBC Wales to the see the country's pro teams in Magners League action. Townsend said: "When I was young there was Rugby Special every Sunday but now the coverage is just not there. The demand is much more now, you see all the kids who come to Murrayfield these days and they love it. More TV coverage could only help drive that interest."

Of course, this is a topical issue which affects even the international level given the SRU's frustration at the black-out of Scotland's recent Test series and McKie added: "As we saw with the Argentina games not being shown that the problem is much wider. Getting TV coverage is very important in helping us to promote the game to kids. I believe broadcasting of, not just rugby, but sport in general really needs to be addressed in Scotland."

Much of the discussion focused on the role schools can play, with the now familiar complaints aired about the falling away of extra-curricular sport in state schools. The experts were unanimous in calling for greater support, flexibility and encouragement for PE teachers, with Glasgow Hawks director of rugby Peter Wright advocating rugby becoming a mandatory part of the curriculum.

SRU head of community rugby Colin Thomson questioned the structure of the academic year, asking why teenagers in the "key period between 14 and 17" spent the best months of the year to be outside playing sport couped up revising for exams.



Both Wright and Thomson made impassioned pleas for the red tape and bureaucracy faced by volunteers, who make up 95 per cent of the Scottish rugby community, to be simplified. They argued that the amount of regulations and paperwork, including numerous child protection checks and risk assessments, put off many potential volunteers.

This article was originally posted on 27-Jun-2008, 07:35 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-Jun-2008, 07:36.