Also in this edition, find out more about the Championing Women and Girls' Rugby Award, and Edinburgh Rugby's recent connection with the local community.

RugbyRight back for 2024-25 season

The new RugbyRight courses are now available on SCRUMS for the coming 2024-25 season.

RugbyRight forms the minimum standard for coaching and match officiating in Scotland and must be completed by all coaches and match officials.

There are sessions now available for any of the following roles at a rugby club:

Welfare and first aid training
Any levels of match officials learning
Coaching courses

Just head to SCRUMS and search for RugbyRight 2024/25 in the course catalogue. These must be completed by 31st October 2024.

Please contact rugbydevelopmentadmin@sru.org.uk should you have any questions.

Player payment declaration needed
In accordance with the wishes of clubs at a previous AGM, Scottish Rugby continues to seek to promote consistency in the interests of fairness, and prevent inappropriate and financially unsustainable player payment practices. The approach taken is documented in regulation (SDR 4.1: Player Contracts and Payments) with a view to providing an effective deterrent to inappropriate and unsustainable practices.

In accordance with SDR 4.1, member clubs must provide a signed annual declaration form ahead of each season. Clubs providing player benefits (as defined in SDR 4.1) must also provide an annual listing of player benefits.

The declaration and player listing forms for season 2023/24 cover the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 (most recent season) and must be returned to Scottish Rugby no later than 25th September 2024.

Clubs and players should note that Scottish Rugby reserves the right of audit, and that appropriate action and/or sanctions will be taken in the event of any non-compliance.

We are also advising clubs that the Club Rugby Board has committed to carrying out a review of player payments regulations ahead of the 2024/25 season, which will commence shortly with recommendations being discussed at the next Club Rugby Board meeting in October.

Player payment FAQs

Consider Temporary Total Disability (TTD) insurance for your adult teams

As part of the Club Investment Fund (CIF), Scottish Rugby currently meets the full cost of providing the compulsory elements of the Club Accident Insurance Scheme.

The 2024/25 Scheme is now open and, in order to maintain cover, clubs must now complete their proposal form on SCRUMS. We ask that this is done by 16 September 2024.

Through the SCRUMS proposal form, clubs can opt to take out Temporary Total Disability (TTD) in relation to loss of income during periods of injury.

Clubs should specifically highlight to their playing members what is (and what is not) automatically covered under the insurance scheme, and then involve those players in the decision as to whether TTD cover is taken out.

At a cost of just £400 per adult team (for the whole season), and providing a benefit of up to £300/week during what can be a very difficult period financially for injured players, the TTD cover provides exceptional value for money. We strongly encourage all clubs to take out the TTD cover.

Finally, whilst TTD cover can substantially assist an injured player, Scottish Rugby also recommends that each player consider their own personal circumstances should they suffer an injury which prevents them continuing their usual occupation.

Such a situation can particularly affect the self-employed. Players should therefore be asked to consider whether, in their own personal circumstances, they should be arranging additional cover over and above anything the TTD cover can provide. We realise that we are living in challenging times but ask clubs to have discussions with players to review their provision.

Find out more about Temporary Total Disability insurance

Match officials recruitment near you
Can't play any longer, but interested in keeping fit during the season? Want to do your bit to keep the game strong in Scotland? Want to put your knowledge of the game to the test?

Introduction to Match Official (ITMO) courses are coming to a club near you in August, and we want you to spread the word around your club.

Head down to an ITMO course, or to a Pies, Pints and Penalties discussion (marked by an asterisk), led by one of our match official development managers.

If you are interested, take a look at the list and sign up using the link below.

Highland RFC, 8 August
Hawick RFC, 11 August
Dalziel RFC, 11 August
West of Scotland FC, 21 August
Peebles RFC, 23 August*
Deeside RFC, 25 August
Panmure Rugby Club, 25 August
Stewart's Melville RFC, 30 August*
Annan RFC, 2 September
Haddington RFC, 6 September*
Fraserburgh RFC, 15 September
Melrose RFC, 20 September*
Stirling County RFC, 21 September
Whitecraigs RFC, 30 September
Selkirk RFC, 18 October*
Dalkeith RFC, 8 November*

Women and girls' award applications open
Founding Partner of the Lions Women’s Team, Royal London, have created the Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award, which celebrates outstanding initiatives by grassroots clubs to support women’s rugby in their local community.

Each year, one club from each Home Union will be rewarded with a special trophy, plus a £10,000 grant to further invest in their women and girls’ programmes.

The successful clubs will have demonstrated they’re committed to growing women’s participation and representation within all aspects of the club. This includes community outreach, access to playing, equality across the club, celebration of women’s success, progression of players and coaches and staff and leadership at all levels.

Applications for the 2024 awards are open until 19 August, and you can apply by completing the form below.
Apply for your team

Law trials and changes 2024-25
Scottish Rugby has announced details of law trials and changes to be implemented throughout the community game in season 2024/25, as of 1 July 2024. This news follows on from World Rugby’s announcement in March following agreement on an action plan at the Shape of the Game forum.

The law trials and changes coming into effect throughout the community game as of 1 July 2024 are summarised in the table below.

Read about the new changes

Edinburgh's stars give back to community
Edinburgh Rugby’s commitment to the local community has been in full force this summer, with the club’s players hitting the road for plenty of fun and games with the next generation of Burgh stars.

The #OurBurgh community outreach programme has seen the squad visit a number of clubs over the opening two weeks of pre-season, with Musselburgh, Edinburgh Academical, Lasswade and Murrayfield Wanderers already benefiting from the summer sessions.

Read the full story