SCOTTISH RUGBY UNION | ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 GROWING LOCALLY, PERFORMING C ONTENTS SUCCESSFULLY, COMPETING GLOBALLY 04 President’s Message 06 Chairman’s Review 08 Chief Executive’s Review 14 Finance Director’s Review 16 High Performance Rugby 20 Performance Development 26 Community Rugby 32 Results & League Tables 38 The Year in Photographs 40 Scottish Rugby Board Report 42 Auditors Report and Financial Statements 56 A Year of Scottish Governance 58 Sponsor Acknowledgements 59 Forthcoming Fixtures FRONT COVER: STEVEN LAWRIE AND CHRIS FUSARO CELEBRATE SCOTLAND 7’S WIN OVER FIJI AT THE EMIRATES AIRLINE EDINBURGH SEVENS. INSIDE FRONT COVER: YOUNG PARTICIPANT AT THE MARTIN CURRIE FESTIVAL OF RUGBY PHOTOGRAPHY: SWPIX; GETTY IMAGES; EWAN BAXTER PHOTOGRAPHY; MICHAEL BOOTH; ANDREA MARCANDALLI; ISOBEL IRVINE; ESME ALLEN/ EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS. ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 PRES IDENT’S MESSA G E George Jack: THE COMMUNITY GAME IS AT THE VERY HEART OF SCOTTISH RUGBY AND IT IS PLEASING TO REPORT THAT THIS SEASON HAS SEEN INCREASES BOTH IN RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE TO CLUBS AND ALSO IN PLAYING NUMBERS, IN ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY GAME. 04 www.scottishrugby.org Committed as we are to Last year we announced our decision to fund missed out in Dublin after a thrilling fi nish player insurance for clubs and increase travel to an exciting game of rugby - once again a supporting the grass roots payments. It is heartening to report that we testimony to the standards in our club game. of the game, there has been have additionally attracted several national companies keen to support our game – Domestically, congratulations are due real progress made with the specifi cally at the community level – and to Boroughmuir who won the Premier 1 clubs have benefi ted from this. Championship with several games still to appointment of yet more Club play. Well done to Melrose in winning the Recently Scottish Rugby applied for, and Scottish Hydro Electric Cup and also to Development Offi cers. We are was awarded, funding via the Cash Back for Garnock, Preston Lodge and Aberdeen well on the way to reaching Communities initiative. This will be applied University for securing the Shield, Bowl and to help extend the community game to Plate respectively. our target, with more and more ensure that rugby plays its part in helping clubs putting structures in place young Scots develop not only a healthy, One year ago the professional team in positive lifestyle but also that the game itself Edinburgh was in some disarray and, given and working hard to grow the fi nds its way into areas where rugby has the uncertainty, several senior players left game within regional based previously never been played. Additionally, for fresh fi elds. Who would have thought that so far as resources for the community with a relatively inexperienced young side partnerships. game are concerned, this season saw and, later, a brand new coach that they would the re-introduction of alcohol provision at have played the style of rugby that they did Murrayfi eld for international matches, with and fi nish in their best ever placing in the related profi ts devoted to the development of Magners League. Meanwhile, in the west, a grass roots rugby. hard-working Glasgow side almost matched them stride for stride in the run-in beating, This season the structure of communications amongst others, a full strength Munster side meetings with clubs followed a different that two weeks later was to lift the Heineken pattern from the norm, due to pressures of Cup. A great display from both sides that the World Cup in September and October. gives us all hope for the future. Instead, and later than usual, a series of roadshows was held throughout the country This season the relationship between Council to allow discussion of the SRU’s Strategic and Board has been extremely harmonious Plan and for clubs to question the President, and businesslike. The members of both spent Chairman, Chief Executive and others. a great deal of time in clubs, as mentioned previously, thoroughly enjoying the reception In addition to this, the President, given to them and gaining a great deal from accompanied on occasion by Council and the visits. They have given great support to Board members, met, on a timetabled basis, me throughout the year and I would thank with all Premier Clubs; got together with them most warmly for that. I hope that National Clubs on Saturdays at matches; and the others on the Council and Board will attended Regional meetings in the North, understand when I highlight Gordon McKie Glasgow and Edinburgh. As a result of this and Allan Munro for particular thanks. Their activity a booklet was produced in March support of me has been way beyond the call containing issues that had arisen, along with of any duty and my heartfelt gratitude goes to a proposed way of progressing each, and this both men. was issued to all clubs. To have been elected to represent Scottish Back in September, the national XV Rugby for the season past as its President progressed to the last eight of the Rugby has been unforgettable and a huge honour. World Cup, though was disappointed to get Whether speaking on Scotland’s behalf at reasonably near a win against Argentina international level or travelling the length and without actually achieving this. And later breadth of Scotland itself; whether spending in the RBS 6 Nations, despite winning the time meeting genuine rugby folk or speaking Calcutta Cup, that disappointment raised its at dinners or watching matches, the season head again in the match with Italy and, to a has been one of great pleasure for me. certain extent, with Ireland. One year ago, both in word and later by letter, The two tests in Argentina, however, I asked clubs for their support as we sought have given our young squad grounds for to take the game forward in Scotland. As we renewed optimism and now the three Bank stand at the end of the season I can only of Scotland Corporate Autumn Tests in humbly say ‘Thank you’, for whenever I have November 2008 will be absolutely vital, for been in clubs throughout Scotland I have RWC seedings are now dependent on these experienced the fellowship of rugby and have results. been given that support. This season the amateur Club International I wish you all a refreshing summer and hope was extended to two matches and I that you return invigorated and determined congratulate those players who had a great to do even better, with the further challenges victory over Wales at Caerphilly and just that a new season brings. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE | ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 05 C HAIRMAN’S REVIEW Allan Munro: AFTER A SEASON HERALDED BY CHALLENGES ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLUBS AND CONCERNING THE BALANCE SHEET, 2007/08 HAS CULMINATED IN A WELCOME RETURN OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR GOVERNANCE OF THE GAME, GROWTH IN ALL AREAS OF THE SPORT AND HARMONY WITHIN THE CLUBS, TOPPED BY A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN OUR FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL STANDING. 06 www.scottishrugby.org A wealth of positive progress One of my key aims this year has been to to renew our partnership with Canterbury explore as many options as possible with of New Zealand in a new four-year kit across the board has underlined a view to improving facilities and access sponsorship deal. This ground-breaking to rugby for all young people. We are in arrangement is the largest commercial deal Scottish Rugby’s position as consultation with key partners, including Scottish Rugby has secured and extends the an attractive proposition for the Scottish Government, to help in areas eight year relationship with Canterbury. sponsorship, government such as improved pitches, increasing Government confi dence in Scottish Rugby access to rugby through the curriculum and is manifest in the recent Cash Back for investment and partnership encouraging government agencies to work Communities initiative that will benefi t together to promote, grow and champion all Scottish Rugby to the tune of over £1.4m over working – we are now the team sports throughout Scotland. the next three years. Added to all this, our that people want to join. We need to identify, buy into and build on exceptional stadium facilities have proved all opportunities that may arise to increase highly desirable to the organisers of a wealth facilities and participation. The very welcome of major events we look forward to welcoming news that the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Murrayfi eld over the next twelve months. has been awarded to Glasgow is a huge Barcelona FC takes on Hibernian in July opportunity for all involved in sport throughout 2008 while ERC recently confi rmed that Scotland. The excitement generated by Scottish Rugby had won the right to host the such a prominent event being staged in 14th Heineken Cup fi nal, in May 2009. We our country must be captured and used to anticipate further announcements of global increase participation and ensure a positive sporting events being staged at our world- impact on the long-term health of our young class stadium in the near future. people. We must ensure that the facilities put Investment in our National Academy in place for the event are used to their full continues to show real progress with many potential for many years to come and that the Academy members now participating at age unique legacy afforded by Glasgow 2014 is group international and sevens levels, and not lost to the nation. eight of them moving up to full professional At a local level, further forays in this area contracts with Edinburgh or Glasgow.