For the second year running rugby clubs across Scotland have been awarded a seasonal gift of rugby kit from Scottish Rugby and community rugby sponsor Scottish Hydro Electric.

In the second year of the three-year £90,000 Kit for Development initiative, the sponsor is providing rugby clubs across Scotland with £30,000 worth of rugby kit to help grow the game by encouraging more players in their youth sections.

In addition to the 60 clubs selected last year, a further 60 clubs will now be awarded with a £500 kit package of their choice - meaning that in the two years of the initiative, two thirds of the total number of full associate member clubs in Scotland (158) have been rewarded.

Colin Thomson, Scottish Rugby's head of community rugby, said: "This is another terrific example of how a company which is committed to community rugby can make it easier for clubs to open their doors and welcome those who want to experience the game.

Facilities and equipment are fundamental to the development of rugby and the Kit for Development initiative offers many clubs the chance to improve their stock of equipment which is crucial to the delivery of rugby in clubs."

Clubs chose from six £500 kit packages which include essential items such as balls, tackle bags, rucking shields, pumps, cones and whistles.

Anna Crampin, Scottish Hydro Electrics Partnership Manager explained: The Kit for Development scheme is our way of directly contributing to grassroots rugby.

In the three years of this programme, every one of the 158 associate member clubs in the Scottish Hydro Electric regional, national and premier divisions will receive £500 worth of specialist rugby kit.

Scottish Hydro Electric is the proud sponsor of club rugbys premier and national divisions, as well as the national cup, and believes the Kit for Development initiative is a further means of support for clubs across the country.

Kit recipients and kit option taken:

(Highlands and Islands)
Lochaber, Strathspey, Ross Sutherland, Shetland and Stornoway
(Grampian)
Moray, Aberdeen University, Deeside, Huntly, Westdyce and Gordonians
(Tayside and Fife)
Crieff, Howe of Fife, Blairgowrie, Panmure, Kirkcaldy, Madras, Waid Academy, Glenrothes, Kinross and Morgan Academy
(Central)
Stirling University
(Edinburgh and Lothians)
Boroughmuir, Dalkeith, Lismore, Murrayfield Wanderers, Watsonians, Heriots, Penicuik, RHC, Leith and Stewarts Melville
(Borders)
Earlston, Gala YM, Hawick Harlequins, Hawick Linden, Selkirk, Walkerburn, Hawick YM, St Boswells and North Berwick
(Glasgow North)
Oban Lorne, Biggar, Clydebank, Isle of Mull, Hamilton, Allan Glens, Helensburgh, Cambuslang and Glasgow Hawks
(Glasgow South)
Greenock Wanderers, Cumnock, Isle of Arran, Annan, Moffat, Newton Stewart, Birkmyre, Whitecraigs and Paisley

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This article was posted on 11-Dec-2008, 14:58 by Hugh Barrow.