Scottish Rugby officials report growth in sport

Jan 9 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SCOTTISH Rugby kicked-off the New Year by announcing that the number of people playing the game at both adult and youth level is continuing to grow by 10 per cent year on year.

Since the Scottish Rugby development restructuring programme rolled out in 2006, numbers playing the game have leapt by around 21 per cent to 30,500 and youngsters playing rugby now number 20,000, a rise of 24 per cent.

The Perthshire youth development set-up has been hailed by national coach Frank Hadden.

Across Scotland, the revised club focused development structure works to bring funding from local clubs and businesses together with local authorities who, in partnership with Scottish Rugby, are co-operating for the continued development and growth of rugby at all levels.

Some 60 jointly-funded club development officers (CDOs) are employed across Scotland and are dedicated to recruiting and retaining rugby players, coaches, referees and volunteers in and around their local communities, working continuously to create links between schools and clubs to maximise the opportunities to play rugby in their area - supported by the team of eight regional development managers.

Scottish Rugby’s head of community rugby, Colin Thomson, said: “The partnership between the governing body, clubs, volunteers, local authorities, sportscotland and central government has been the key to the welcome rise in participation.

“Club development officers dedicate their time to recruiting and retaining rugby players in and around their community and work continuously to create links between schools and clubs to maximise the opportunities to play rugby and increase participation at all levels of the club game.

“The raw talent and enthusiasm generated in schools and communities is then given the continued opportunity to play by countless committed volunteers running teams in clubs and schools across the country.”