Send-off Scotland to the Rugby World Cup in style

Supporters have the chance to send off the Scotland squad to this autumn’s Rugby World Cup in England in style at a glittering gala dinner in Glasgow. The dinner will take place on Thursday 10 September and proceeds from the stellar evening will be shared by two of Scottish Rugby’s charity partners; the Bill McLaren Foundation and Hearts & Balls. The dinner at the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow city centre will be organised by the charities and the entire Scotland squad and management will be present.Roaring success Hearts & Balls director, Scottish Rugby Board member and former Scotland captain Ian McLauchlan, said today: “The corresponding event before the squad set out for New Zealand four years ago was a roaring success. “It gave supporters the chance to say ‘Good luck, we’re very proud of you and we’re all right behind you’ and that message will ring loud and clear again this autumn.” Alan Lawson, former Scotland scrum-half, on behalf of the Bill McLaren Foundation, said: “Bill had the great pleasure of commentating at three Rugby World Cup tournaments – truly the shop window for the global nature of our game. “The fact the tournament this year is on our doorstep means that there’s a golden opportunity to inspire people to become involved in rugby and gain an insight into the sport’s values, which Bill loved. “At the Bill McLaren Foundation we’re delighted to co-host this dinner.” Tickets for the dinner can be bought from the websites of the respective charities www.heartsandballs.org.uk or www.billmclarenfoundation.co.uk  and cost£100 each.  They are available from Wednesday (29 April). Most tables will be configured for ten guests but there is some flexibility for larger or smaller numbers. Guests will be entertained by former Scotland captains Alastair Kellock and Rory Lawson and the evening will feature a drinks reception, three-course dinner and cheese.  There will also be an after-dinner speaker.Humbling Scotland head coach Vern Cotter welcome today’s announcement.  He said: “It’s really humbling that two renowned rugby charities wish to send us off to the tournament in this manner. “As a squad and management we look forward to the event and hope it can raise a substantial sum to support the work both Hearts & Balls and the Bill McLaren Foundation do.” Scotland stand-off, Finn Russell, said at today’s launch: “Family and friends will always rally behind you and I learned during the course of the RBS 6 Nations Championship, especially through social media, the sheer number of Scots around the world who want the team to be successful. “As a player I’ll be focused over the next few weeks in helping Glasgow Warriors end the season with a flourish and I very much hope to be part of the Scotland Rugby World Cup squad. The dinner is a fantastic gesture and one that I’d be honoured to attend.” Notes to editors: Rugby brings immense pleasure and a sense of community to millions of people, but occasionally, like many other sports, it brings tragedy instead. Though it happens very rarely, injuries can be serious and life-changing. Hearts and Balls aims to ensure that, in times of need, those connected with rugby are supported by the wider rugby community. Bill McLaren was a man who represented all that is best about rugby union. He was known as “The Voice of Rugby” not just because of the beauty of his tone and the delight of his imaginative phrasing, but because he portrayed our game as we would always wish it to be. The Bill McLaren Foundation was set up in March 2010 to raise funds to support the development of rugby and its values and also to recognise the contribution Bill made to rugby through education and the development of an interpretative centre.