Scottish Rugby invests second round of Club Sustainability Fund

Rugby clubs across Scotland are set to benefit from Scottish Rugby’s second round of investment from the Club Sustainability Fund.  Funding from Scottish Rugby worth£340,000 will be shared across 12 clubs following last season’s first round investment, with the fast-track strand of the fund awarded earlier in the season to 24 clubs.A sum of£1.6million was set aside by Scottish Rugby for investment in the domestic game across a four-year period with other clubs benefitting in the next two years. The successful clubs will also receive National Lottery funding worth over£300,000 from sportscotland with funding for further projects yet to be confirmed, which have a combined cost of£5.9million. This year, 14 rugby clubs applied for funding from the Club Sustainability Fund, which was created through BT’s sponsorship investment in Scottish Rugby. Ed Crozier, President of Scottish Rugby, said: “The Club Sustainability Fund enables us to improve the infrastructure of the domestic game across Scotland through supporting clubs and their project ideas.Together with the BT sponsorship investment, we are helping to improve club facilities for grassroots rugby. We hope such investment will encourage more players and communities to get involved with their clubs to help create a rugby legacy within the domestic game.”Michael Cavanagh, sportscotland’s Lead Manager, Sports Development, said: “As we continue to build a first class sporting system for everyone in Scotland, our partnership with Scottish Rugby when delivering the Club Sustainability Fund is key to improving rugby facilities for clubs and communities. It will provide greater opportunities for people to take part in sport while also generating new revenues for clubs.”Funding applications were focused on either capital or revenue funding and assessed by Scottish Rugby and sportscotland. Second round recipients – see table below for full award list – include Marr Rugby Club who won Club of the Season in 2013/14 and have recovered from the adversity of their clubhouse being badly damaged by a fire in 2013. During the same year in which a third of the building was destroyed, Marr developed a clubhouse extension to improve catering and facilities, strengthened ties with Marr College to ensure the delivery of a school of rugby and their 1st XV gained promotion into the BT National League 1. Yesterday’s second round launch took place at Marr Rugby Club with Arthur Dunsmuir, a former president and club captain, who played a key part in establishing rugby at Fullarton Park during the 1960s.Kevin Quinn, Marr President, said: “We would like to thank Arthur for all he has contributed to the club over the years. “The Club Sustainability Fund will enable us to develop those facilities which were first established by Arthur and other members.”Marr’s changing room facilities are now set to benefit from a£50,000 cash injection to accommodate the growing number of teams at the club and the development of a Ladies section. Elsewhere, Kelso have also secured£50,000 for a changing room refurbishment with the hard working club looking to modernise their facilities to allow mixed usage. Highland are set to receive£40,000 to support a significant redevelopment project which will see the club build a new clubhouse and rugby facility with a 3G pitch. Waid Academy will be utilising Scottish Rugby’s Club Sustainability Fund to develop further World Rugby regulation 3G pitches as they cement a wider partnership with Fife Council. Today’s announcement brings the clubs that have received funding from the Club Sustainability Fund to 91 in total from the first two seasons of awards. This season, 12 capital and revenue funds have combined with 24 fast-track investments, while last season 14 capital and revenue funds were awarded alongside 41 from the fast-track strand. Clubs who were not successful in the second round of funding will continue to receive support from Scottish Rugby in order to develop their projects to investment level. Club Sustainability Fund – Capital & Revenue strand – second round applicationsApplicant ClubProject OutlineScottish Rugby Awardsportscotland AwardMarr Changing room developmen£50,00£79,194Hawick Linden (Volunteer Park)Changing room developmen£50,000tbcKelsoChanging room developmen£50,00£100,000Crieff Club pavilion development£50,00£160,184Howe of Fife New Business Development pos£10,000N/ANorth Berwick New Business Developmentpost£10,000N/APeebles New Business Development pos£10,000N/APerthshire New Business Developmentpost£10,000N/APreston LodgeNew Business Developmentpost£10,000N/ALismore New Business Developmentpos£10,000N/AHighland / Highland Council New clubhouse and sports facility£40,000tbcWaid Academy / Fife Council New 3G pitch£40,000N/A