Rugby cash windfall

Feb 25 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE Scottish Government has announced that cash totalling £3.65m recovered from the proceeds of crime will be invested in Scottish rugby club activities and facilities over the next three years.

Through Scottish Rugby initiatives, including the Cashback scheme launched in 2008, the game’s governing body has delivered, in partnership, more than 60,000 school, club and street rugby sessions with the attendance totalling over 1.15 million participants.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, announced the increased funding.

Mr MacAskill, said: “Rugby is one of Scotland’s most popular sports – just look at the interest in the current RBS 6 Nations campaign. Everybody wants to see our teams and players succeeding at the highest level and that can only happen with investment at grassroots, to support every tier of the game.

“In addition to making funds available to help clubs improve their facilities, the support ensures the opportunities are there for young people across Scotland who want to give rugby a go.

“This investment will make sure we are better placed to get more young people involved and give them the chance of becoming the next generation of rugby stars.

“By taking funds from the ill-gotten gains of crime and putting it back into our communities we are making those communities safer.”

Scottish Rugby will channel £2.4m of the funding towards enhancing playing and coaching opportunities for young people across all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

This includes support for the successful national network of jointly-funded development staff who act as a focal point for growing the game at the local level.

The remaining £1.25m will be made available to local rugby clubs where there is a track record in growing the game at junior, youth and adult levels.

Clubs will be able to apply for awards of up to £50,000 to invest in new or upgrading existing facilities, with priority given to projects that benefit primarily young people. This new fund will be administered by sportscotland.