THE BRITISH
ROSS
AEROPLANE COMPANY
SUTHERLAND
As Andy explains, this success has come from taking a
different approach to engaging with the community.
“We’ve long recognised that geography has been a
major barrier to people, and kids in particular, getting
access to rugby, but still we have people making return
trips of over 100 miles just to train and play. In the past
we set up hubs at Plockton and Golspie High Schools
to help give us a foothold in the more rural areas.”
“As a community-focussed club we decided that we
needed to do more to support access to rugby and
promote the benefits of our club. Working closely with
Active Schools Co-ordinators throughout the area
we built up a better mutual understanding of sports
provision and developed a framework that allowed us
to both support their work and develop our club.”
The Community and Rugby Development Team
(CARD), comprises of two Coaches plus support
staff. It is their role to go out into the Community to
develop and support Rugby. Last season, we were
involved in promoting the game in over 50 Primary
and 7 Secondary schools, plus running Camps and
out of school events. We believe that this is crucial
to get into the smallest and most remote schools!
You never know; there’s a future international player
somewhere out there – they just need a chance to
prove themselves.
So where next for the club?
“Well first on the horizon,” says Andy, “is the small
matter of Positive Coaching Scotland accreditation. We
have been working towards this over the course of the
last year and are nearing the final stages.”
and our wider rugby family to what we are trying to
achieve.”
Having spent a lot of time, effort and money on the
club facilities over the past 3 years, we now have a first
class pitch, the best in the North of Scotland, as well as
a warm and friendly Club house in which to entertain
our visitors. We have recently pushed to become a
central hub for many events in the Rugby calendar;
hosting School cup finals, regional Girls camps as well
as being a venue for many of the Island teams wishing
to reduce their travel mileage. However, all of this work
costs in terms of time and money. We are hoping that
our successful Community and Rugby Development
team will attract not only more players but parents and
helpers as well.
As with any Sports club nowadays, we couldn’t manage
without the support of small and large businesses
in the area. It is through their generosity that we are
able to continue with the expansion of the Club and
Rugby in the North of Scotland. A big thanks goes to
MF Marine for supporting the 1st XV team and Port of
Cromarty Firth for their backing in youth and Rugby
Development.
We’re always up for a challenge; youth games, senior
matches – we’ll play. So if you fancy a cuppa or a
“dram”, need somewhere to rest your weary legs whilst
on holiday pop in and see us.“Ross Sutherland Rugby
Club – The friendliest Club in the North”
“This has been a very good experience and it
has enabled us to tie in Community and Rugby
Development to get the buy-in of players and parents,
www.rugbyclub.biz
41