Plus, catch up on news from the pro clubs; see the new e-learning update for schools and youth matches; and get your nominations in for Vice President before the end of the month deadline.

Club Investment Fund applications due by 31 August
Remember to submit your 2024/25 Club Investment Fund (CIF) application to the RugbyDevelopmentAdmin@sru.org.uk email address before 31 August. As in previous seasons, there are criteria designed to support clubs with minimum standards of club development and governance, safeguarding and player welfare, among other standards. Clubs meeting these criteria will be eligible for funding.

You can read the full document on our website. Please sign and return a signed copy to Rugby Development Administrators by 31 August, by emailing RugbyDevelopmentAdmin@sru.org.uk.

Read the 2024/25 CIF

Glasgow Warriors announce URC trophy club tour
Glasgow Warriors will be touring the BKT United Rugby Championship trophy this September and October, across Glasgow, the West, and Caledonia.

The club will be taking the impressive 25kg, 68 centimetre tall, trophy, known as ‘The Array’, on the road to eight rugby clubs across their three representative regions.

Supporters, and groups from rugby clubs from across the regions are welcome to visit the trophy at each stop.

If you plan to take bigger groups from your clubs to the one of the stops, we encourage you to get in touch directly with the host club ahead of the event.

Saturday 31 August, 1-2pm | Marr Rugby Club, Fullarton Woods, Isle of Pin Rd, Troon KA10 7ER
Sunday 8 September, 7.30-8.30pm | Ardrossan Accies, Memorial Field Pavilion, Sorbie Road, 49 Sorbie Rd, Ardrossan KA22 8AP
Sunday 15 September, 1-5pm | Hillhead Jordanhill, 32 Hughenden Rd, Glasgow G12 9XP
Saturday 28 September, 11-12pm | Boroughmuir Rugby Club, Meggetland Sports Complex, Edinburgh EH14 1XN
Saturday 28 September, 2-3pm | Howe of Fife, Duffus Park, Carslogie Rd, Cupar KY15 4HY
Sunday 29 September, 10-11am | Garioch Rugby Club, Kellands Park, Inverurie AB51 3UL
Sunday 29 September, 2-3pm | Highland Rugby Club, Canal Park, Inverness IV3 5SS
Saturday 5 October, Time TBC | Stewartry Rugby Club, Greenlaw, Castle Douglas DG7 2LH

Season tickets are also now on sale for the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship season. Find out more about the club's offers through this link.

Haddington benefits from Edinburgh input
Edinburgh Rugby recently made a special visit to Haddington RFC where the club side took part in a coaching clinic with the Edinburgh coaching staff.

The club’s senior coaching team, led by Head Coach Sean Everitt, took part in a pre-season coaching clinic with the amateur side’s senior and colts teams.

Around 60 players from the East Lothian club turned out for the session, which was the culmination of a competition Edinburgh Rugby ran for local clubs to win a professional coaching clinic.

Check out Haddington's day with Edinburgh

Schools & Youth Competitions E-Learning
This season we’ve created an e-learning module that provides a one-stop shop for updates and reminders about the various regulations that apply to schools and youth competitions and fixtures.

The course provides a re-cap of the Age Grade Law Variation, Law Trials and Age Banding Policy information shared through RugbyRight, as well as containing a specific module about the Schools and Youth Competition Rules.

All Schools and Youth Directors of Rugby, Youth Convenors and Development Officers are asked to complete the course. and it’s also best practice for coaches and team managers that support U15-U18 teams taking part in the formal competitions (leagues/cups).

To access the course please log in to SCRUMS and click the Browse Courses button on the lefthand menu. Please note the course must be completed in one sitting so choose a time that will avoid interruption. When you’re finished don’t forget to register completion through the final section of the course.

The Schools and Youth National Competition Rules and a number of useful guides are also available to download from here.

SCRUMS course

Children's Rights legislation update
Scottish Rugby is aware of the recently commenced UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. We also want to make clubs aware of this Act, while we review what this means for ourselves and for our clubs.

This marks an important milestone in Scotland where the UNCRC has been incorporated into Scots law. Ensuring children and young people have their human rights recognised and protected, and this Act will help ensure that children’s human rights are at the heart of decision making, policy and practice.

Rugby plays a vital role in supporting children and young people. Rugby plays a vital role in supporting children and young people and Scottish Rugby are very supportive of a rights-based approach for all children in our rugby clubs.

Clean Sport module
Scottish Rugby is proud to continue its commitment to Clean Sport via our Clean Sport module which is available to all clubs and school players, coaches, and officials to sign up for via SCRUMS.

The module outlines the importance of players competing in clean sport and provides clear guidance for players and those around them on the risks and potential consequences of making a poor choice so that coaches and parents can support players in making informed choices.

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Medical Operations Richard Wood said: “This module has been designed for players, support staff and parents to educate themselves on the key areas within Clean Sport.”

SCRUMS

Vice-President nominations close soon
In November 2024, elections will take place for a new Vice-President, who will then become Scottish Rugby Union President in 2026.

This role is a six-year commitment to join the Scottish Rugby Union Board: two years as Vice-President, two years as President, and two years as Immediate Past President.

We want to attract people who resonate with our values and to join us on our mission to inspire Scotland through rugby.

Scottish Rugby is on a journey of significant change and our ambitions include:

developing a vibrant community game supporting winning teams enhancing Scotland’s largest stadium, Scottish Gas Murrayfield
improving our digital and technology offer; and
driving revenue growth, underpinned by a commitment to ESG and our culture and values in everything we do.

The successful candidate will play a key role in overseeing the future success of rugby in Scotland and beyond.

A key part of the Vice-President’s and subsequent President's role is to promote the game in Scotland, and you’ll be a great ambassador across our whole stakeholder ecosystem.

Within the overall governance structure, the Vice-President is a Custodian Director of the SRU Board, and you’ll chair the Scottish Rugby Union Club Rugby Board and deputise for the President as required.

You’ll attend Scottish Rugby Union Board meetings and various events on behalf of Scottish Rugby and be part of the discussions that ensure Scottish Rugby is making progress in developing thriving rugby communities, and that we maximise our positive societal impact across Scotland. You'll play your part in ensuring we have a sustainable future as a sport in Scotland.

This role is remunerated, with the time commitment as Vice-President around 4–5 days per month, increasing during the term as President reflecting the wider ambassadorial nature of that role.

Potential candidates should speak with their rugby club before applying for this role. All nominations must be proposed and submitted via a full member club of Scottish Rugby Union. The deadline for the Scottish Rugby Union’s Vice President nominations is 5pm on Saturday 31 August 2024.

The election of a new Vice-President is due to take place at the 2024 AGM on Wednesday 27th November. Further details of the role and the required criteria to submit a nomination can be found on the Scottish Rugby website in the link below.

Nomination and background form