Scotland Kit Donated To Our Troops In Afghanistan

Scottish Rugby today donated extraneous items of rugby kit to the military in order that it can be used by troops serving in Afghanistan.  Scotland team manager Dougie Potter was on hand to present some of the kit to army personnel at Murrayfield. He said: “We’re please to do anything thing that we can to help to lift the spirits of our troops in Afghanistan or other operational theatres. “Some of the kit may be used by the military to engage with the local population and I understand there’s already been some success with the local population in Afghanistan taking up the game. “Who knows we could see Afghanistan in the Rugby World Cup one day.” Captain Andy Hambley of 521 EOD squadron added: “It’s nice to know that the servicemen and women out in theatre are all in people’s minds and it’s a great morale-boost to get something from home, especially from the national team.  “We like to use this kind of donation to help us with ‘hearts and minds’ engagement as it can enable us to give something back to the communities we are protecting.” The kit was used by various Scotland teams for training purposes and as the previous team sponsorship deal with Murray has elapsed it is now surplus to requirements. Other kit from this stock will be donated by Scottish Rugby to:• the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) SOS Kit Aid initiative – which assists the global development of the game in some of the poorest countries in the world; • the rugby community in Scotland; and• Barnardos, a charity supported by RBS, new sponsor of the Scotland team. You can see the new Scotland kit worn for the first time when Scotland take on Ireland in the EMC Test on Saturday 6 August at Murrayfield. Tickets for that game are on sale now from£10 for adults and£5 for children. Our picture shows (back-row L-R) RSM Mark Beggs 2 Scots; Major John Currie, chairman Army in Scotland Rugby; Captain Andy Hambley; Scotland team manager Dougie Potter; front-row Martin Stewart and Scott Yardley, Scottish Rugby kit staff. Note to editors The Royal Bank of Scotland’s sponsorship of the Scotland representative teams is one element of the overall partnership with Scottish Rugby. As principle partner of Scottish Rugby, RBS are supporting rugby in Scotland at all levels, from grassroots activity to the national game. This wide reaching partnership gives RBS the opportunity to deliver against the commitment made in their Customer Charter, to support communities across the country. One of the many initiatives planned to help develop the game at a club level is RBS RugbyForce, a volunteer programme established to help clubs upgrade and maintain their local rugby facilities.