£100,000 investment in the game will assist clubs

Aug 27 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

LANARKSHIRE’S rugby sides are set to benefit after Scottish Rugby announced an additional six-figure investment just ahead of the new season’s kick-off.

Scottish Rugby have made an extra £100,000 available to help Scotland’s clubs cover the cost of match official expenses, taking the governing body’s annual investment to around £1.7m.

And Scottish Rugby, in partnership with league and cup sponsor Scottish Hydro, have allocated £60,000 to the new Scottish Hydro Club Facilities Fund, which offers clubs up to £2000 in matched-grant funding to finance their own ground improvements.

Clubs like Hamilton, Biggar, Uddingston, Dalziel, Strathaven, Clydesdale and Lanark could be set to benefit from the investment.

SRU head of community rugby Colin Thomson said: “The number of people playing the game is growing year on year and Scottish Rugby recognises that, in order to fully support the increased number of players, we must look at ways in which we can offer more assistance to clubs.

“Club rugby is the bedrock of the sport in Scotland, with volunteers, players and spectators across the country all gearing up for another fantastic season of rugby.”