Welcome to this latest edition of TEAMtalk, as we come to the end of another action-packed season of rugby, culminating in our clubs’ national finals day at Murrayfield.
It has been a real pleasure, over recent months, to visit clubs the length and breadth of the country and witness at first hand just how much time and effort is put into the playing, coaching, refereeing and volunteering at all levels from minis to veterans and everything in between. What’s especially pleasing to see is that all these endeavours are paying off, with increases in playing figures for both youths and adults, a rise in entries to the schools’ cup and the success of initiatives like street rugby, introducing the game to those who have never before taken part.
Lots of great work is being done within our rugby community to promote the game with new partnerships forged between clubs and business, and clubs really picking up the ball and running with some fantastic initiatives of their own, as you’ll read in this edition.
As the 2008/9 season reaches its close, I’d like to wish you all a great summer break as you prepare for another action-packed year of rugby.
We may be nearing the finish line of season 2008/09 but there’s plenty going on at Scottish Rugby, now we’re well into our May events calendar. Kicking off with rugby league’s Magic Weekend, followed by our club National Finals, the month continues with the Heineken Cup Final and culminates with the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s Festival. As the final destination of this season’s IRB World Series, we look forward to welcoming sixteen world-class sides to Murrayfield for two days of fast-paced rugby, resulting in one team being crowned world champions.
Our own Scotland 7s side returned from the recent Rugby World Cup 7s in Dubai as winners of the Plate competition and will be looking to improve on their performance in the final two legs of this year’s series. And with a stellar Scotland 7s line-up, featuring some of our biggest pro players, we anticipate a great Edinburgh climax to the Series.
Off the pitch, we are currently involved with interviews for the next Scotland Head Coach. After receiving over 30 applications from across the globe, the selection panel will compile a list of candidates as we progress to the interview stage, over the next few weeks. The panel includes Gordon Bulloch, Andy Nicol and Andy Irvine, not only all former Scotland captains but all ex British and Irish Lions. Our Chairman, Allan Munro, and myself are part of this selection process and we will also be calling on the expertise of colleagues at the Scottish Institute of Sport.
Our forthcoming Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Tests will provide the first Murrayfield challenge for our new coach as we welcome Fiji, Australia and Argentina to the home of Scottish Rugby in November. Reduced ticket prices for all these matches symbolise our thanks to all our loyal supporters. As we anticipate a new era for the international game, I look forward to welcoming you all to our national stadium in the very near future.
Welcome to this latest edition of TEAMtalk, as we come to the end of another action-packed season of rugby, culminating in our clubs’ national finals day at Murrayfield.
We may be nearing the finish line of season 2008/09 but there’s plenty going on at Scottish Rugby, now we’re well into our May events calendar. Kicking off with rugby league’s Magic Weekend, followed by our club National Finals, the month continues with the Heineken Cup Final and culminates with the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s Festival. As the final destination of this season’s IRB World Series, we look forward to welcoming sixteen world-class sides to Murrayfield for two days of fast-paced rugby, resulting in one team being crowned world champions.