Businesses across Scotland are being invited to forge closer ties with the country’s rugby team through a new initiative.After reporting record revenues for the last financial year Scottish Rugby’s commercial and marketing team is continuing to develop new initiatives.One opportunity is the Scotland Business Club, led by former Scotland, and Glasgow Warriors’ PRO12 winning captain Al Kellock, through his business development role in Scottish Rugby’s commercial department.Targeted at influential firms across Scotland – with the aim of “Inspiring businesses beyond the 80 minutes” – numbers are being limited to 20 companies to ensure each member can take full advantage of the range of exclusive benefits. The Club is now welcoming new members ahead of the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations, which kicks off at BT Murrayfield with the Calcutta Cup clash vs England on 6th February. Club members will be able to to network with like-minded counterparts at home international matches, and invite their own guests to the games.They will also be opportunities to understand the environment that has to be created to produce a winning Scotland team and to see how the group prepare for major competitions.Away from matchdays members will be invited to exclusive events, which will deliver insights into creating winning cultures and explore the crossovers between business and high performance sport.Plans are also in place to extend the Club out to the international business market to help build the global awareness of the Scottish Rugby brand and engage the ex-pat community and beyond.Al Kellock said: “In my last few years on the pitch I spent a lot of time looking at the crossover between rugby and business.”The new Scotland Business Club is a way to bring business leaders closer to elite rugby and to share some of the positive values and learnings that exist between high performance sport and a successful business culture.”We have big ambitions for the project and see it having an international aspect very soon, as we know there is a lot of interest in Scottish Rugby beyond our borders that we can now engage with through the Business Club.” Already signed up to the Business Club is Dunfermline based, CR Smith, leading legal practice, Harper Macleod, and finance experts, Argyle Consulting. Ewen McCorkindale, Director at Argyle Consulting Ltd said: “We have historically supported Scottish Rugby at many levels. We recognise the important links and values Scottish Rugby has with the business community in Scotland. Becoming a member of The Scotland Business Club provides Argyle with the opportunity to promote our own business brand while enhancing our association with Scottish Rugby.”Gareth McCluskey, Head of Sales & Marketing said: “At CR Smith we recognise that building strong relationships on a common goal and set of values, with customers, suppliers and colleagues is central to our on-going success.”Success on the rugby field demands the same shared objectives and values and as such we feel that The Scottish Rugby Business Club provides the right backdrop for enhancing our existing relationships and building new ones.”Glasgow legal firm, Harper Macleod were attracted by the opportunity to extend their business profile through to the east of the country, via the Business Club membership and the events and activities planned at BT Murrayfield. Martin Darroch, Chief Executive of law firm Harper Macleod who last week announced a sponsorship deal with Glasgow Warriors, said: “We are serious about both our business and sport, but while winning at international rugby is undoubtedly a serious game it’s also a great way to entertain and thank our clients. BT Murrayfield is just along the road from our expanded offices in Edinburgh and we look forward to supporting Scotland and sharing some memorable days with our guests from around the country.”To find out more about joining the Scotland Business Club please contact Al Kellock via [email protected]