Modern Slavery Statement

Scottish Rugby is committed to ensuring that we are taking all the right actions to protect our supply chain from modern slavery. This statement explains how we address modern slavery issues.

Scottish Rugby falls within the ambit of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

This Statement is published in accordance with the requirements of Section 54 of that Act. It provides a brief explanation of: Scottish Rugby’s structure, business and supply chains; the approach taken to assessing and managing risk; steps taken in relation to suppliers and the supply chain; policies and values which are considered relevant to the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking; training of relevant staff and reporting.

  • 2025 MSA for Publication

    SCOTTISH RUGBY LIMITED MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015 SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT  

    Scottish Rugby Limited falls within the ambit of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.  

    This Statement is published in accordance with the requirements of Section 54 of that Act. It provides a brief explanation of: Scottish Rugby’s structure, business and supply chains; the approach taken to assessing and managing risk; steps taken in relation to suppliers and the supply chain; policies and values which are considered relevant to the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking; training of relevant staff and reporting.  

    The term ‘modern slavery’ used in this statement includes slavery, servitude, and any type of forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking.  

    Structure, business and supply chain  

    Scottish Rugby Limited is the main operating company of the Scottish Rugby Union, which is the governing body of the sport of rugby union in Scotland. The organisation derives its revenues largely from the sale of tickets to attend international and professional team rugby matches, sponsorship, broadcasting, provision of hospitality and payments from international bodies of which the organisation is a member.  

    Almost all of our operations are conducted in the UK. With the exception of retail and merchandising, supply chains are short and predominantly service-based, with the point of delivery of service within Scotland. Retail merchandising does involve the manufacture, through the organisation’s external contractor, Macron, of goods, particularly clothing, overseas.  

    Our work is underpinned by our strong values and our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.  

    For further information about Scottish Rugby Limited, its organisational structure and operations, please see: http://scottishrugby.org.  

     

    Assessing and managing risk  

    Scottish Rugby is committed to having systems to safeguard against modern slavery existing within our business and supply chains. Our supply chain and operations  are reviewed  to assess the risk of modern slavery taking place, taking into account a number of factors, including the nature of our activities, their location, the sources from which we are supplied with goods or personnel and the risk profile of relevant locations.  

    Many of the organisation’s activities are outsourced and we focus our attention on those elements which incorporate the provision of hospitality services, retail and merchandising and the provision of stewarding services. These are the areas which are considered, in the context of the business as a whole, to be most relevant to risk and  issues surrounding modern slavery and human trafficking.  

    Taking account of the small number of suppliers involved, the detailed tender processes, contracts and service agreements in place and the well-established and reputable nature of the contractors, that risk is itself considered to be small. At the point of engaging a new supplier, or re-engaging an existing one, we take the opportunity to reassess this risk.  

     

    Due diligence processes with suppliers and the supply chain  

    We seek to partner with suppliers that share our values, and we expect our supply chain to operate fair and equitable practices, whereby modern slavery is not tolerated.  

    Our contracts contain provisions requiring compliance with applicable laws and, as appropriate, good industry practice. Failure to adhere can ultimately result in termination. The contractual terms and conditions that we put in place with our suppliers are regularly reviewed. 

    We use the following methods to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our business or supply chains:  

    • We deal with well-established reputable organisations on a long-term basis with service level agreements and requirements to adhere to applicable laws and good practice.  
    • We meet regularly with them to review their operations.  
    • We continue to review statements published by our suppliers on the use of forced labour to ensure that they in turn are taking what appear to be appropriate steps.  
    • We maintain communication and personal contact with our supply chain to ensure their understanding of, and compliance with, our expectations.  
    • Formal contractual warranties and indemnities,  a code of practice and rights of inspection of workplaces are already included in our main merchandising supply contract with Macron and, to the extent not already in place, similar rights will be introduced where appropriate into new contracts and on contract extension to provide greater assurance in future. 

     

    Policies and Values  

    Scottish Rugby has a number of core values: Build Belonging, Be Brave, Create Clarity and Bring Passion. 

    In pursuit of these values, a number of policies exist which are relevant to the area of modern slavery and human trafficking but these do not yet specifically address the subject. These include an Inclusion & Diversity policy and  a probity policy, which encourages the reporting of improper or unethical business practices and whistleblowing.  

    The organisation’s Environmental, Social and Governance Committee  will be conducting a review during 2026 of  applicable ESG policies  to ensure that they remain up to date. Specific reference to slavery and human trafficking will be introduced where appropriate.  

    Scottish Rugby has robust procedures for recruiting people. The organisation has a permanent full time People department with professionally qualified employees who manage recruitment and employee management processes. Job vacancies are subject to internal approvals of terms and conditions and pay. Most recruitment of non-playing people is through direct application to Scottish Rugby; recruitment consultants and agencies are used sparingly. Applicants are encouraged to complete equality and diversity questionnaires as part of the recruitment process and references are checked with previous employers. Scottish Rugby is a registered sponsor with the Home Office and takes particular care in the recruitment, employment, resettlement and integration of foreign workers.  

     

    Training  

    As policies are updated and communicated, the organisation will continue to provide and reinforce training as required.  

    Employees have been provided with training in relation to various  policies in place and the wider values of Scottish Rugby. We have recently launched  an Everyday Leadership programme, building one earlier training programmes for managers and leaders within the business which includes, among other things, principles of  inclusion and diversity and a number of other areas of employee welfare and behaviour.  

    There have been significant changes in our workforce  during 2025  and we have identified key individuals to be provided with  training in the coming year specific to modern slavery and human trafficking issues. The key individuals are those considered to be most likely to have an exposure to the issues involved, principally employees dealing directly with the main suppliers and contractors mentioned above,  finance and people teams. The aim of this training will be to increase awareness and understanding of human slavery issues and to help colleagues be alert to relevant indicators, their particular relevance to Scottish Rugby, and their role in managing them in accordance with our values. 

     

    Reporting  

    The organisation reports both to its Board of Directors and, as appropriate, its Audit and Risk Sub-Committee  and  ESG Committee, the remit of which specifically covers issues of slavery and human trafficking.  

    In addition to whistleblowing  policies for our employees and contractors, the organisation operates a confidential reporting service, “Tell Us” enabling people to  make us aware of concerns they may have about negative behaviours . Although  principally directed towards discrimination in rugby this can also be used to report other concerns. These reports  are shared with experienced representatives of Scottish Rugby’s Rugby Development dept, disciplinary and safeguarding teams to ensure appropriate action is then taken.  

     

    Scottish Rugby’s Continued Commitment to Tackle Modern Slavery  

    Scottish Rugby recognises the importance of maintaining constant vigilance to identify and address any impacts associated with slavery and human trafficking throughout its supply chains, and to continuing to enhance its capacity to identify, prevent and mitigate any actual or potential impacts in this field.  

    We will continue to work with our commercial partners to better understand their processes and policies to prevent modern slavery within their organisations and supply chains and will continue to assess the effectiveness of the measures we take and we will regularly review and refine our policies and procedures in relation to modern slavery.  

    Approved by the ESG Committee on behalf of the Board of Scottish Rugby Limited 24th December 2025.