TRIPLE BOOST FOR RUGBY IN SCOTLAND
Friday, 25 June 2010

- Participation rises, ranking of national team on the up, surplus confirmed -
Chief Executive Gordon McKie will highlight triple peaks of achievement when the annual general meeting of the Scottish Rugby Union takes place at Murrayfield tomorrow (Saturday 26 June).
Addressing delegates from Scottish Rugby's 250 full and associate member clubs, McKie will reflect on a season which saw Scotland rise to seventh in the world - equalling their highest ever position since the rankings were established by the IRB and crowned by their first ever Test series win overseas - and which saw Scottish Rugby exceed its target of 38,000 adult and youth players two years ahead of schedule.
He will also underline ongoing financial stability in a tough economic climate with Scottish Rugby posting a surplus of around £0.6m in the last financial year.
Surrounded by the famous five additions to Murrayfield's trophy cabinet - the Hopetoun Cup (awarded after Scotland defeated Australia); the Century Quaich (following Scotland's win against Ireland at Croke Park); the Bicentenary Cup (awarded for Scotland's victory against Argentina in Tucuman); the Personnal (correct) Cup (presented for Scotland's second Test win against the Pumas in Mar del Plata); and the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s Plate (won by Scotland last month) - McKie said: "What a fantastic achievement in Argentina, winning an overseas Test series for the first time and coming at the end of a season where the team's promise was confirmed with our first away victory in Dublin for 12 years.
"Let's give full credit to head coach Andy Robinson, his management team and the players. In his first year in charge of the national team Andy, has a group of players who believe very passionately in him and his management team, as confirmed by the tour Test victories."
McKie went on: "The game is growing. We set targets as part of our strategic plan back in 2006-07 and I'm very happy to report that these targets have been achieved early.
"We believe, after a diligent audit process, that some 38,500 people are now playing rugby in Scotland with considerable growth in each of the adult and youth categories."
McKie will urge against any complacency however, predicting a challenging year ahead, not least on the broadcasting front as Scottish Rugby seeks to find partnerships with the broadcast media that will fuel a continuing growth in the game and promotion of Scottish Rugby's achievements. His remarks on broadcasting come ahead of a debate on the subject in the Scottish Parliament next Thursday (1 July).
Finance
On finance, McKie will report that Scottish Rugby has increased turnover to £33.6 million and achieved a surplus of around £0.6M for the first time in recent years in spite of a challenging economic climate. Average bank borrowings for the year were less than £15 million for the second successive year.
Events
The increased confidence in Scottish Rugby's ability to manage its sport is confirmed by the continued support and backing from the private and public sector and a desire from other sports and entertainment organisations to bring major events to Murrayfield Stadium. Such events as the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s and the Rugby Football League's Magic Weekend, alongside Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby fixtures, saw more than 400,000 people pass through Murrayfield's turnstiles in the past year.
In turn such crowds deliver significant economic benefits to Edinburgh and Scotland. The most recent economic impact study conducted for Scottish Rugby and unveiled last September concluded that events held at Murrayfield Stadium were worth some £130 million to the Scottish economy in a season with almost £73 million of that sum being spent in the Edinburgh area alone.
One of the most poignant events held at the stadium in the past year was a gathering to celebrate the life of the much-loved Voice of Rugby, Bill McLaren, who died in January. Scottish Rugby was honoured that Bill's family chose Murrayfield to host a fitting tribute to the legendary broadcaster.

Investment in clubs
Scottish Rugby is pledged to maintain this past season's level of financial investment in the club game at all levels moving forward to the new season. A sum of £1.8 million will be spent to continue the drive to grow the game. Scottish Rugby will continue to explore ways in which standards can rise, especially at the top of the community game. We welcome increased club involvement in the British & Irish Cup competition, enabling our best club players to test themselves against their peers elsewhere in the British Isles.
Participation
Scottish Rugby has surpassed its strategic target to grow its playing base by more than 50% two years ahead of schedule, pointing to the steady recovery of extra-curricular state-school rugby as key to the sport's consistently increasing popularity.
The number of schools regularly playing the game has risen from 184 in 2008 to more than 240 in 2010, thanks in part to a successful state school specific programme run in partnership with the Scottish Widows Bank which rewards and supports school staff who give up their time to take extra-curricular rugby.
The flourish in state school playing numbers, particularly within first to third year at secondary school, is crucial to the overall rise in youth numbers. Now there are 25,000 under-18s playing regular rugby compared to 15,000 just four years ago.
Head of Community Rugby Colin Thomson hailed the partnership approach which has been at the heart of the growing playing numbers. "We have worked in partnership with clubs, schools, sportscotland and local authorities and last year alone we delivered over 19,000 rugby sessions to more than 180,000 primary and secondary school children," he explained.
"Together we fund a network of 75 club development officers around Scotland who develop and grow rugby at all levels in their area."
In 2006, participation in rugby in Scotland stood at 24,500. Now it is at 38,500, a rise of almost 60% in total with a 64% rise in the number of young people playing the game.
A key part in winning new recruits to our game is by opening doors to participation as we believe that sport can play a major role in helping young Scots to become healthier, safer and stronger, thus making a positive contribution to their own neighbourhoods.


Scotland team
It was a year with hard work and no little heartache along the way where Scotland ultimately became a tough team to beat; a year that ended with Scotland posting three away victories in succession and enjoying an unbeaten run of five matches (including the non-cap Test against a Japan Select). Under the leadership of head coach Andy Robinson, Scotland recorded fine wins against Australia and Ireland and a historic first away Test series in the Southern Hemisphere. Next season the team will strive for further improvement as they build towards the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The Scotland team will next be in action in November when they face New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa in the Autumn Tests.
Pro-teams
Scotland's pro-teams, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, won five out of their six home Heineken Cup matches, their best percentage yet in Europe's elite professional club competition. Glasgow Warriors were our top pro-team, winning both legs of the 1872 Cup derby games en route to qualifying for the inaugural Magners League play-offs. Both teams played largely attractive rugby winning the approval of supporters with both showing increased attendances over the season. With some promising new signings for each team we look forward to progressing next season, which will see two Italian teams enter an expanded Magners League competition.
Stadium developments
Investment in and around Murrayfield continued in the last year with the introduction of new pitch growth lights, the development and upgrading of our main reception area and new office accommodation in the south stand. We will continue to invest in the stadium in the year ahead to ensure Murrayfield remains a world-class venue.
Thanks
Gordon McKie thanked Scottish Rugby's staff and the thousands of volunteers whether in clubs or schools for all their hard work to take the game forward. "The past season has seen encouraging developments both on the rugby field and financially and that could not have been achieved without the tireless endeavour of so many people. I thank them all and wish them continued success in the season ahead."

This article was posted on 25-Jun-2010, 22:16 by Hugh Barrow.