Edinburgh Rugby welcomes Peter Vardy Group into the club’s Partner Family, as Scotland’s leading motor dealership become the Official Car Partner of Edinburgh Rugby.
The four-year deal will see the Peter Vardy BMW logo feature on the upper sleeves of both the team’s home and change Macron match jerseys as the capital side compete in the newly formed United Rugby Championship and European Cup.
Edinburgh-based Peter Vardy BMW will also provide the capital side with pool vehicles utilised by club staff and players, including the Edinburgh Rugby Community Team.
The announcement comes on the threshold of a new era of professional rugby in the Scottish capital, with the upcoming launch of the United Rugby Championship and the long-awaited opening of the club’s new 7,800 capacity stadium – Edinburgh Rugby’s first-ever permanent home.
Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director, Douglas Struth, said: “We’re delighted to announce Peter Vardy Group as the Official Car Partner of Edinburgh Rugby.
“It is an extremely exciting time for the club – with the completion of our new purpose-built home and the launch of the United Rugby Championship – so to have Peter Vardy Group join us on this journey is a great vote of confidence that we are moving in a bold and positive direction.
“Having already joined Scottish Rugby’s Sponsor Family earlier this year, it has been brilliant to see, first-hand, the Group’s enthusiasm for rugby in Scotland.”
Peter Vardy, Chief Executive, said: “Following our support of Scottish Rugby earlier this year, it seemed a natural development for us to back the game at a local level.
“We have been hugely impressed by the commitment of Edinburgh Rugby to nourishing community involvement and the active participation of young people throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians.
“We recognise that this is a landmark year for the club and we are delighted to play our part in helping make it as successful as possible.”
Annual grassroots sustainability programme provides vital funds as the nation’s clubs look ahead to the new season
Leith Rugby Club has been awarded £1,000 and a chance to meet Scotland International stars, after gaining Hero Club status in this year’s Royal Bank RugbyForce initiative.
Beating strong competition from over 130 entries, the Edinburgh club will receive its prize ahead of Royal Bank RugbyForce Weekend* on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August.
The weekend typically see’s rugby clubs across Scotland host a range a pre-season events, such as volunteer DIY and Community Fun Days, raising awareness of the positive impact that Scotland’s grassroots clubs have within their local areas.
Royal Bank RugbyForce is a nationwide rugby programme launched by Royal Bank of Scotland in association with Scottish Rugby. Since launch, more than half a million pounds has been distributed, directly benefiting three-quarters of amateur rugby clubs in Scotland.
With the pandemic causing unprecedented financial pressures, this year’s funding will help amateur clubs across Scotland to improve facilities, attract new members and to develop sustainable futures.
In partnership with Scottish Rugby, and subject to Covid-protocol at the time, Leith Rugby club will be visited by Scotland Internationals on RugbyForce Weekend*, including players from the women’s national XV, the men and women’s sevens teams or ex-legends of the Scottish game.
To help clubs through this period where they have to adapt to new guidelines, Royal Bank has also developed a toolkit for grassroots clubs, including information and advice on how they can remain financially sustainable, helping them to safeguard their clubs and the sport for the future.
The bank has also provided ‘Return to Rugby’ kits including social distancing solutions, directional signage and sanitation essentials as well as new bibs, balls and cones.
New for this year, grassroots heroes aged 18-35 from Scotland’s local rugby club have been encouraged to apply to become ‘Young Ambassadors’ as part of a fresh focus on the future by broadening the diversity of rugby club boardrooms.
The programme is working together with Scottish Rugby to appoint 10 Young Ambassadors onto club committees, providing them with an additional £500 grant from Royal Bank to deliver a project of their choosing.
An announcement on the winning Young Ambassadors will take place on the 19th July. Winners will be selected from all five Scottish Rugby regions and will be picked based on how their project helps their club to broaden their appeal in the local community and create positive societal change, as well as the great work they are currently delivering through their commitment to their club.
Jamie Drummond, club captain at Leith Rugby Club said: “Royal Bank RugbyForce Weekend is marked out in our calendars every season and we’re absolutely delighted to be one of this year’s winners.
“It’s been a tough eighteen months for clubs like ours up and down the country and programmes like this have proven to be more vital than ever. We can’t wait for RugbyForce Weekend and hopefully we can put on a fantastic event for our local community, bringing our club together and welcoming as many new faces as we possibly can.”
Malcolm Buchanan, Chairman, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scotland Board, said:“Leith Rugby Club thoroughly deserve their Royal Bank RugbyForce award win having delivered some vital work in their local community throughout the pandemic.
“After a year where the resilience and spirit of the grassroots game has been tested like never before, we are proud to maintain our continued commitment to the Scottish game and we are really looking forward to helping Leith and rugby clubs across the country to get back on their feet and return to the action on the pitch.”
The Leith club is celebrating it’s centenary this year:
Season 2021/22 will mark 100 years since, in 1921, the Leith Academicals Rugby Football Club was formed through a grant from the Leith Academy F.P. Association and the start of 100 consecutive years of rugby in Leith.
From the early days as one of the top junior clubs in Scotland, through our wonderful 70 years at Hawkhill, to today and our fantastic Academy Park home, we’ve lots to remember, cherish and celebrate.
To ensure we do that in a style befitting the birthday season, we’ve a range of events and activities planned as part of our centenary programme. We’re adding more events and details of those planned as they’re confirmed, and you can follow keep up to date on Facebook and at our website: https://bit.ly/2RDOazY
We hope you’ll participate in any and the many that interest you, as we bring the Leith Rugby community together to mark what will be a memorable season, as we honour our past, and continue to build our future.
Playing rugby union can significantly improve health and wellbeing, despite the risks associated with the game, a study suggests.
Possible benefits include a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, some cancers, stroke, heart disease and depression, according to the paper in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Improved muscle function, bone health and balance are other potential health gains listed in the study, which coincides with the final weekend of the Six Nations Championship.
Enhanced cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic function are further possible health dividends highlighted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh.
Players of touch, tag and wheelchair rugby appear to benefit most. Evidence of positive health outcomes among those playing contact forms of rugby union such as 15-a-side and sevens is less clear.
The study concludes that further research is needed on the physical impact of contact rugby, given the high incidence of injury and concussion compared with other sports, especially at professional level.
Researchers also highlight the positive impact that rugby union – especially in wheelchair rugby and amateur settings – has on mental health and wellbeing. Further study is needed to quantify the mental health benefits of contact rugby, they said.
The team reviewed nearly 200 rugby-related studies from six continents to build a comprehensive picture of the sport’s relationship with health, and to identify gaps in research.
This review is long overdue, the team says. Despite global participation in rugby union, there has been no overarching review of the relationship between rugby union and health and well-being. Scientific analysis has, until now, focused mainly on the relationship between rugby union participation and injury.
The study, funded by the Rugby Football Union, and in collaboration with the Scottish Rugby Union, seeks to provide a more balanced perspective on the benefits and risks.
With eight million players in 120 countries, rugby union plays a vital role in helping the global population meet the World Health Organisation’s physical activity goals, the study states.
Researchers say the review can make players, and those thinking of taking up the game, more aware of potential health gains as well as the hazards.
It will also enable parents and teachers to make informed decisions about schools rugby and help policymakers better understand how they might promote rugby union as a health enhancing activity.
Lead author Dr Steffan Griffin, of the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh, said: “There is strong evidence to suggest that all forms of rugby union provide moderate-to-vigorous physical activity that can be linked to a wide range of health and well-being benefits.”
The study (doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102085) can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/3kBXvSL.
A LEAD sponsor for a club in Scotland’s new top-tier domestic rugby division is helping pack the stands by offering 100 free tickets to the inaugural game.
Boroughmuir Bears’ shirt sponsor Commsworld is offering the tickets to the first 100 people to book tickets using the code COMMSWORLD through the Citizen Ticket platform.
The club is playing the first match of the FOSROC Super6 League season on Friday 8November on home turf at the Meggetland Sports Complex against Stirling County, with kick off at 7:30pm.
Ricky Nicol, Chief Executive at Commsworld, said: “We’ve been proud supporters of Boroughmuir for the past four years – it’s a no brainer to celebrate the club’s progression into semi-professional standing with free tickets for their fans.
“This season is even more momentous as the club marks its 100th anniversary this year. It’s a proper well-deserved celebration, so I hope that we can help the club generate a special atmosphere.”
Commsworld announced last year it would continue to sponsor Boroughmuir for the next five years, investing in every team from the youngest through to the senior teams and providing funding for training kits and referee fees.
The Boroughmuir Bears is one of six teams selected as part of the semi-professional division which aims to bridge the gap between Pro14 sides and Scotland’s amateur clubs. The Super6 League is the first division of its kind and is set to become the new top tier of domestic rugby.
Commsworld is one of Scotland’s most reputable providers of digital connectivity, offering a market disruptive service to rival legacy network providers. Founded in 1994, the firm is headquartered in Edinburgh and has bases in London, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
The ninth Rugby World Cup gets under way in Japan today. It’s the first time the tournament will be held in Asia, but the usual countries are expected to dominate the event.
Scotland’s campaign gets underway on Sunday, and their opening fixture couldn’t come any tougher – we face the team who currently top the world rankings, Ireland.
The result of this game could well determine just how far Scotland progress in the tournament. Victory, and the likelihood of topping the group, would see Scotland enjoying an easier run to progress in the tournament – in theory at least!
Scotland’s best RWC performance was a semi-final appearance back in 1991 and we would do well to repeat that achievement – elimination at the quarter final stage would seem more realistic.
Who will win it? There is currently no one dominant force in world rugby and the tournament is more open than it’s ever been, with five or perhaps six teams capable of winning the Web Ellis Trophy.
World number one Ireland, South Africa, Wales and current holders New Zealand all have sound claims and Australia can never be written off.
And of course, there’s England …
Russia and Japan get the tournament under way this morning – and I confidently predict that neither of these nations will be lifting the trophy on 2nd November!
Edinburgh Rugby can confirm that The City of Edinburgh Council has now granted a Building Warrant to enable the club to begin construction on a purpose-built 7,800 capacity stadium on the back pitches of BT Murrayfield.
Edinburgh has worked closely with both Scottish Rugby and The City of Edinburgh Council over recent months on the detail of the plans. This outcome allows construction on the stadium to start in Autumn this year, with a view to it being ready for the club play in its new home from the beginning of the 2020/21 season.
Until then, the club will continue to play home fixtures on the main international pitch at BT Murrayfield for the entirety of the 2019/20 season whilst the stadium is constructed.
This is underpinned by the coming season’s Season Ticket Membership sales having already reached record levels, as supporters continue to back Richard Cockerill and his squad ahead of the new campaign in growing numbers.
Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director, Douglas Struth, said: “While this has clearly been a difficult process and more drawn-out than we had envisaged, we are delighted to have now been granted a Building Warrant by The City of Edinburgh Council.
“This now allows us to move forward with what is clearly a pivotal and game-changing project for the club.
“I’d like to thank all those who continue to work proactively within the project as we now move into a build-phase, as well as The City of Edinburgh Council for concluding the Building Warrant process with us.
“I’d also like to thank the club’s supporters for their continued patience throughout this period and for buying Season Ticket Memberships in such numbers.
“With Season Ticket Memberships having already hit a record high ahead of the 2019/20 season, coupled with today’s hugely positive news regarding the stadium, I believe this is a really exciting time to be an Edinburgh Rugby supporter and I would urge our fans to get behind the team over the coming season as we prepare to move into our new home.”
Scottish Rugby this week passed the one million ticket mark for fans watching Scotland matches at BT Murrayfield, since its run of 14 consecutive sell-out matches began in February 2017.Continue reading Scottish Rugby: Isobel is one in a million!
The upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is a once in a lifetime event with over 1.8 million fans expected to attend
Most fans will not be aware of deadly conditions such as Japanese Encephalitis, Tick Borne Encephalitis and Rabies Enchephalitis which occur across south-east Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Rugby legend, John Bentley is supporting a campaign encouraging fans to be fully prepared in plenty of time before the games
With a month to go until the Japanese Rugby World Cup 2019, both fans and players will be in full preparation mode, with the event expected to attract the largest ever number of foreign fans. More than 600,000 of the 1.8 million available tickets expected to be held by international fans making the journey to Japan.Continue reading Rugby star issues health warning ahead of World Cup
Award-winning UK-based Japanese comedian Yuriko Kotani has teamed up with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to produce some special advice for fans travelling to the Rugby World Cup in Japan this autumn.
