Scottish Rugby’s Post

What do you do with the sheep after you get them over the bridge.

At a time when rugby union is struggling in North America, and despite not having the Eagles qualifying for the RWC23, Major League Rugby is attracting many former rugby icons, such as Matt Giteau, to name but one. Recently, Stade Toulousain, one of Europe's most prestigious clubs, joined forces with the Utah Warriors, striking a major blow on the American Rugby Union (XV) market. However, it is Rugby League (XIII) that is about to conquer the American market. This type of rugby, often described as more spectacular and rougher, is about to set foot in the United States. The economic strategy behind this move is questionable and highly risky... But "high-risk = high-reward". I can't wait to see if Rugby League (XIII) can make it on the American market before Rugby Union (XV) rugby does. Let's give it a try. ---------------------   French version available online   ---------------------   Selective by passion   #sponsorship #sports #marketing

We've all been buzzing since winning a Rugby Black List award and feel more than ever that serious discussion and action needs to be taken around this fundamental question: "If rugby in England wants to engage with diverse communities how will this be achieved if diverse communities have no access to rugby?" In highly populated urban areas the required space for schools and clubs to play rugby on doesn't exist in sufficient amounts. Interesting fact - 50% of the total BAME population in England live in 3 cities. London, Birmingham & Manchester. Any thoughts? Also consider that you can't start to fudge the game (which is something the powers that be are currently working on) to create 5 a side touch and call it rugby. The beauty of rugby as we know it is that all shapes and sizes have an equal and important part to play on the pitch. Without this element it simply isn't rugby.

As we go into the second weekend of a thrilling Six Nations, here’s a really timely story about the unintended benefits of lowering the tackle height (from shoulder height to sternum) in schools and across much of amateur Rugby Union. This was a controversial change. A year ago traditionalists were up in arms. Many feared it would ruin the sport as they knew it. In reality it has proved to do the opposite. While it’s too early to conclusively say that it has lowered the incidence of concussion, the anecdotal evidence is that there has been a significant improvement. And it has had another unintended consequence - because the rule leads to fewer two-on-one tackles, the ball-carrier can often offload the ball to a team mate. So as well as improving safety, rugby is getting faster and more enjoyable to watch, with fewer set-piece interruptions. Those of us in positions of influence in the game should take heart from this example. * Increasing player safety doesn’t have to come at the expense of the sporting spectacle. * Innovation is critical to the future of the sport. See you at Murrayfield. Come on Scotland! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 https://lnkd.in/eeBsRhR2

The Six Nations. The ultimate prize in international rugby. But what can the 130th edition of this historic tournament teach us about business and running a successful team? Hult professor and rugby fan Maxted Neal shares his top three insights below:    1.) Process over outcome. Focus on each action rather than success itself.  2.) Interdependence over independence. Star players don’t make a team—every member does.  3.) Long-term success over short-term goals. Prioritize clear objectives and time for reflection.     Check out the carousel for Max’s insights in full.    And for more key insights into the world of business, head over to the Hult blog: https://bit.ly/3vb57Gk Six Nations Rugby #hultinternationalbusinessschool #sixnations

Cracking list on here

With the start of the Autumn Internationals, we have 3 exciting matches this weekend, all with potential impacts on the World Rugby rankings: • Sep 6: Scotland vs Wales (BBC iPlayer/RugbyPassTV) • Sep 7: Barbarians vs South Africa (TBD) • Sep 7: England vs France (BBC One/RugbyPassTV) Here’s how the rankings could shift: • England vs. France: England can’t boost their rating but stays #1. A 15+ point win for France could leap them to 2nd, ahead of 🇨🇦 and 🇳🇿! • Wales vs. Scotland: A win could move Wales to 6th, while Scotland may drop to 9th with a big loss (15+). • Scotland: Even with a win, they remain 6th, still trailing 🇦🇺 by 1.22 points. More: https://bit.ly/4dSz2nH

Championship rugby clubs in England face an uncertain financial future following the announcement of the Professional Game Partnership (PGP) between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby (PRL). The PGP, which aims to create world-leading English teams, will see the Premiership clubs receive £33m per season. In contrast, Championship clubs will each receive their lowest-ever funding of just £133,000, a significant drop from the £650,000 they received in 2016. Many Championship clubs feel excluded from the discussions and frustrated by the financial disparity between the two tiers. Despite new provisions, such as a two-legged play-off for Premiership promotion and increased flexibility in entry criteria, Championship clubs remain sceptical. They face immense financial challenges, particularly with the recent liquidation of Jersey Reds and concerns over future funding. Although the RFU has outlined plans to create a more sustainable second tier and develop young talent, the clubs emphasise the need for greater financial support to bridge the growing gulf between the Championship and the Premiership. #Rugby #RFU #RugbyUnion #SportsFunding #SportsBusiness

A brand new £3m funding initiative is set to improve the development of coaches and players from the British Isles ahead of The British & Irish Lions Women’s first ever tour in 2027. The ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ funding from Royal London, founding partner of the Lions Women’s team, is set to be deployed in customised plans for each union, tailored to meet their specific needs. The plan for Scottish Rugby is to appoint two ‘Performance Pipeline’ coached, along with expanding youth camps and training matches to boost the development of the players. Additionally, they will host residential camps for a national academy. The WRU - Welsh Rugby Union is going to bolster its women’s pathway coaching team with the addition of five new members, including a specialist skills coach and a performance pathway coach. They will also put resources into talent identification programmes and initiatives aimed at Welsh qualified talent based out of the nation. Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has allocated the funding to host supplementary camps and training matches for women’s under-18 and under-20 teams, aimed at accelerating player development. Alongside establishing a ‘Coach Accelerator Scholarship Program’ and collaborating with universities to identify future talent. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) are going to use the grant to enhance England Rugby’s existing player development groups, which will help increase the targeted skill development for players progressing through the pathway. Ben Calveley, The British and Irish Lions CEO, said: “Supporting the growth of the women’s game is a key strategic priority for the British and Irish Lions as it is for each of our constituent unions.” “Royal London’s ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ grant represents a significant investment into the women’s game in the four unions and will make a positive impact on women’s rugby.” #investment #rugby #rugbyunion #lions #britishandirishlions #rfu #wru #irfu #scottishrugby #womensrugby

Yesterday, I had the pleasure in my capacity as DoR at Farnham Rugby Club spend some time with the Director of Rugby from Guildford Rugby Club - Aidan Turns. A great meeting (as all the previous meetings from my local clubs have been) and enlightening on so many fronts!! A couple of headlines... 1. The Reality of Building a Rugby Legacy - Guildford Rugby Club has evolved from humble beginnings in 1922 to a thriving hub for rugby excellence. This growth is a testament to the dedication of players, coaches, volunteers and its community. 2. We discussed the Do’s and Don’ts of Rugby Club development... Don’ts: ❌ Don’t overlook the importance of youth development. ❌ Don’t neglect facility upgrades. ❌ Don’t be afraid to be a leader - deal with all manner of day to day ‘rugby stuff’ that lacks integrity or not within our sports values. Do’s: ✅ Invest in youth rugby (girls & boys) - it's important!!. ✅ Continuously upgrade facilities and look after your finances robustly. ✅ Foster a sense of community - always!! Guildford Rugby Club’s success stems from these core principles and in no small measure I am sure, down to Aidan and his team. Good luck over the forthcoming season (not to much luck - obviously🙏😂😂)!! #RugbySuccess #GuildfordRugby #ClubDevelopment #RugbyLegacy #GuildfordRugby #Commitment