Scottish Rugby recently embarked on a series of roadshows throughout Scotland, giving club members the opportunity to discuss matters of common interest with Scottish Rugby’s President, Chief Executive, Chairman and Head of Community Rugby.
The events, held throughout November touched down in locations from Aberdeen to Hughenden to Netherdale and covered all aspects of the game from refereeing to Murrayfield Stadium tours and insurance issues to the club commission scheme, which had been widely welcomed.
Thanks to all who took the time to come along, take part and add to the discussion.
Scotland supporters have the chance to see many of their Edinburgh pro team heroes as they’ve never seen them before, with the recent launch of the Edinburgh Rugby 2010 calendar!
The brainchild of Edinburgh’s Nick De Luca, who came up with the plan after his side had been presented with copies of the Stade Francais calendar following the sides’ meeting in the Heineken Cup, the production is not only aimed at the enjoyment of fans but is also making money for Maggie’s Centre in Edinburgh, which cares for those living with cancer and their families.
“We managed to get the calendar done in a short turnaround of just three weeks,” says Nick, “and what was really pleasing was the willingness of all 36 players in our squad to get involved, posing in some unusual shots and that shows what a great team spirit we’ve got.”
The calendar (£10) is selling fast but copies are still available from the Scottish Rugby store at Murrayfield or online via the Edinburgh Rugby web site.
Scottish Rugby honoured 26 of its community coach apprentices at a graduation ceremony, recently, led by Edinburgh Rugby flanker Alan MacDonald at Murrayfield Stadium.
This year’s graduates – who include 18-year-old Scotland Women’s internationalist Sarah Quick – achieved either a Level 2 SVQ in Coaching, Teaching & Instructing Rugby Union, or a Level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Management, in addition to a number of industry-specific awards within coaching, refereeing, first aid and assessing.
Their input and enthusiasm towards rugby development within their own communities has taken them into approximately 400 primary schools and 100 secondary schools across the country in the past year.
Alongside classroom-based study the apprentices, sponsored by rugby clubs and local authorities, work in tandem with Scottish Rugby’s community rugby regional development network and have graduated with a Scottish Modern Apprenticeship.
In 2002 the Community Coach programme was launched by Scottish Rugby and it has continued to develop and flourish. At any given time, it has in the region of 50 young people involved in the programme. The scheme has been a nationally-acclaimed success contributing to the development feat of 15,000 primary and secondary school rugby sessions given to more than 120,000 pupils in a ten month period. Over 80 clubs have sponsored at least one candidate on to the programme
Level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Management (2nd year graduates)
Jason Morgan (Clackmannanshire Council), Alan Lynch (Dalziel), Andrew Philip (Royal High Corstorphine), Ashley Ireland (Clackmannanshire Council), Ross Marrins (Portobello), Jason Hill (Perthshire), Jamie Miller (BATS Rugby), Euan Stuart (Paisley), Emma Stark (Grangemouth), Adam Grassie (Morgan), Neil McFarlane (BATS Rugby), Robert Emslie (Perthshire), Darren Cruikshank (Dumfries Saints), Niall Clawson (Forrester), Stuart Munro (Dunfermline), Christian Wallace (Grangemouth)
Level 2 SVQ in Coaching, Teaching & Instructing Rugby Union (1st year graduates)
Matthew Lynn (Murrayfield Wanderers), Kyle Pearson (Kilmarnock), Calum McLean (Strathmore), Colin Turnbull (Stirling County), Katie Verweijmeren (Cartha Queens Park), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Keiran Scott (Peebles), Grant Drennan (Dumfries Saints), Emma Hampton (Perthshire)
Jim Hamilton and Simon Webster at the open training session for junior supporters
Following the relaunch of Scottish rugby’s three junior supporters’ clubs – Edinburgh’s Crew, Glasgow’s Band of Warriors and Scotland’s Pack – in the autumn, membership numbers have rocketed. Free to join, Edinburgh Crew now has 1925 members and Glasgow Band of Warriors 1107 – both sets of members automatically become members of the Scotland Pack on joining. There are great benefits to be had – including pro team match tickets plus the chance to enter a ballot to be Scotland’s mascot at Murrayfield internationals!
In the run-up to the autumn tests, members had the chance to come along to Murrayfield and see the Scotland squad go through their paces on the international pitch – some even had the chance to attend a special Q&A session with players beforehand. To find out more about the clubs, log on to www.scotlandpack.co.uk
Supporters arriving at Murrayfield for the RBS 6 Nations fixtures will find an extended welcome to the stadium, in the shape of a new reception area in the central West Stand. Sited at ground level, the new entrance will welcome players and officials, visitors to Scottish Rugby and guests to the President’s and Thistle Suites.
The new area, which extends into the concourse, will incorporate the team tunnel and relocate the current staircase in a bright and airy reception facility that will be permanently staffed.
Elsewhere in the stadium, to accommodate the increased traffic at the north side of the stadium on international match days, further turnstiles are being erected alongside those existing blocks.
To give an outline of how the various teams within Scottish Rugby are involved in supporting the game, here’s a new section to TEAMtalk, talking about the work of the teams. We’re kicking off with Communications and Public Affairs, and encourage other areas of the business to get in touch in a similar vein.
The Communications and Public Affairs team supports, produces and delivers in all areas of the game, from community through age grade to the national team, throughout Scotland and beyond.
On the Public Affairs front, the team works with the Scottish Government and Scottish and UK politicians across all of the major political parties. We inform politicians of our activities, secure continued support for rugby at all levels and engage with local authorities across Scotland to stress the role that Murrayfield Stadium plays in the Edinburgh and Scottish economy. The team ensures that Scottish Rugby works closely with councils throughout Scotland to see how we can best support local, grassroots rugby and encourage participation at all levels.
Working alongside the players and management of Scotland’s national, age grade and professional sides, and with community rugby colleagues, we provide the appropriate support to publicise all rugby activity through broadcast and written media, so promoting the game in a positive and dynamic way. We facilitate the numerous media requests for information, interviews and photographs to assist the wider press, from activity surrounding RBS 6 Nations match days and personnel announcements to sponsor and innovative PR activities.
The team publicises rugby news and information at all levels via our web sites while many external requests for information on all aspects of the game, plus issues raised by supporters, are handled on an ongoing basis through our Feedback service.
In conjunction with our photography providers, PA Images, we strive to ensure that our sport is shown in an appropriate way and to as diverse an audience as possible through press, publications and online. The wealth of images being accrued will add to the legacy of the game, built and maintained in our archive for future generations.
We produce a variety of printed matter, from international match programmes to TEAMtalk to the annual Scottish Rugby Record. The team continues to help colleagues throughout Scottish Rugby with production of their documents and with the many electronic communications to our stakeholder groups.
Nick De Luca launches the Edinburgh calendar 
SVQ graduates 2009 with Alan MacDonald 
Jim Hamilton and Simon Webster at the open training session for junior supporters