Today sees the start of the RBS 2012 Rugby Force weekend which is yet another good initiative by the Scottish Rugby Union to assist grassroots development of the game. Current international players will be heading out to various rugby clubs across the country, from Stornoway in the Hebrides to Dumfries in the far south, to make a valuable contribution to the club game in a practical way.
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The winners of more than 500 Scotland caps will be going back to grassroots next (this) weekend as rugby clubs the length and breadth of Scotland prepare for the start of the new season.
The countdown to the big kick-off will be boosted by RBS RugbyForce Weekend 2012 when RBS, principal partner of Scottish Rugby, works in tandem alongside international players, to spruce up rugby clubs.
The RBS RugbyForce 2012 initiative has been developed to encourage clubs across Scotland to open up their clubs to the local community, raise the profile of the game and launch the new domestic season with a fanfare.
Some 138 clubs across Scotland have registered for the event next (this) Saturday (11 August) and Sunday (12 August) – an increase from the 58 clubs who registered last year.
Greig Gilbert, RBS Rugby Team, said: “The idea behind RBS RugbyForce Weekend 2012 is to support clubs to hold an event that underlines what they can offer to their communities, while encouraging everyone to get the club ready for the new season. We’ve been encouraging our branch staff to get out to their local clubs and support RBS RugbyForce.
“That can be in a variety of ways, maybe some minor DIY, or through a social event like a barbecue or training session.”
Nick Rennie, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Clubs and Schools, added: “Some 138 clubs are taking part in total with the 20 most impressive applications receiving an extra helping hand. We’re supporting this initiative with Scotland players, Scotland Women players, Scotland 7s caps and Scotland under-20 players.”
Scotland captain Ross Ford said: “I know a lot of planning has gone in to this event and for me it’s a privilege to be lending my support to it. We all started as youngsters, encouraged along to our rugby clubs, and anything we can do to help Scottish clubs throw out the welcome mat and inspire more folk to get involved will be time really well spent.”
In total players who have won 551 caps for Scotland between the men’s and women’s teams plus 23 IRB sevens caps and 13 appearances for Scotland in under-20 internationals will be involved on Saturday 11 August and Sunday 12 August.
The players who’ll be on duty Saturday are:
• Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) at Aberdeen Wanderers and Deeside
• Duncan Weir and Robert Harley (both Glasgow Warriors) at Bishopton
• Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors) at Caithness
• Tom Brown and David Denton (both Edinburgh Rugby) at Montrose & District
• Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) and Mary Lafaiki (Scotland Women) at East Kilbride and Cumbernauld
• Tim Visser and Matt Scott (both Edinburgh Rugby) at Fife Southern
• Ross Ford and Greig Laidlaw (both Edinburgh Rugby) at Grangemouth Stags
• Nick De Luca and Ross Rennie (both Edinburgh Rugby) and Tanya Griffith (Scotland Women) at Linlithgow
• Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) at Helensburgh
• Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) and Lana Skeldon (Scotland Women) at Langholm
• John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) and Heather Lockhart (Scotland Women) at Lenzie
• Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) at Ross Sutherland
• Murray McConnell and Fergus Scott (Scotland under-20) at Stornoway
And those on duty on Sunday are:
• Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors) at Birkmyre
• Sean Kennedy and James Fleming (both Scotland 7s) at Crieff & Strathearn
• Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) at Dumfries Saints
• Sean Lineen (Scottish Rugby’s Head of Player Acquisition and former Scotland centre) – Carnoustie