Scottish Rugby is pleased to announce today that equity manager Martin Currie has agreed to invest a significant six-figure sum in a number of age-grade player development areas to support the growth of the game of rugby in Scotland over the next three years.The funding will cover Scotland’s national under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 teams as well as Scottish Rugby’s pathway programme and Scotland Women’s rugby for the duration of the sponsorship. In addition, Edinburgh-based Martin Currie will be the official sponsor of the Festival of Rugby on the Murrayfield back pitches across the weekend of the inaugural Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s on 2/3 June 2007.   The pathway programme is a direct feeder for the national age-grade teams, who have delivered good competitive results in recent weeks at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels. The programme targets youngsters from the age of 13, who have the potential to go on to representative rugby in the future, in order to effectively nurture their talents. Scottish Rugby Chief Executive Gordon McKie welcomed the deal. He said: “It’s fantastic news to secure the support of an internationally respected company like Martin Currie as partners for our age-grade national teams, women’s rugby and the pathway programme. We’re delighted that Martin Currie are also getting behind the Festival of Rugby during next month’s Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s at Murrayfield.  “Whilst our various age-grade and pathway structures are still developing, we’ve seen an improving trend in our national age-grade teams this season and by securing this partnership we will aim to build on recent progress alongside the continued development of our age-grade players,” he added.    Martin Currie Chief Executive, Willie Watt, said: “At Martin Currie, we are committed to developing talent. Our partnership with Scottish Rugby will allow us to mirror in the wider community what we are achieving within the company.” On the funding aimed at the pathway programme, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Player Development, Henry Edwards, said: “I’m very pleased that Martin Currie have shown such great interest in the pathway programme. It plays such an important part in identifying talented players and preparing them for the future. I hope that this sponsorship will raise the profile of the programme and help us continue our efforts to provide competitive players and teams.” On the sponsorship of the Scotland Women’s team, which will include the Martin Currie logo on the national playing jersey, Sandra Kinnear, chairperson of the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union, said: “We’re hugely excited about Martin Currie’s involvement in women’s rugby and we are looking forward to working with them to further develop this area of the game in Scotland.”  The Festival of Rugby, an integral part of the eagerly anticipated finale to the IRB Sevens World Series, will feature around 2000 participant across all age-groups and experience levels in two days of high-octane fun.  With teams taking part in New Image games for primary schools right through to senior men’s and women’s sevens, the Festival is building up to be the perfect partner for the inaugural event on the international pitch at the home of Scottish rugby.