SRU can rest easy as team gets into bed with Novotel

Published on Monday 7 July 2008 10:27

SCOTTISH RUGBY was today set to add to a growing sponsorship portfolio with an announcement of an official hotel partner for the national team.

Hotel chain Novotel will be unveiled as the recognised accommodation provider partly due to the length of the beds they provide around the country.

To welcome the arrangement, which is expected to include a "substantial" cash amount according to a leading Murrayfield source, Edinburgh and Scotland Jim Hamilton was due to attend along with club-mate Hugo Southwell.

Hamilton, signed from Leicester Tigers over the summer, stands 6ft 8in tall and weighs in at a whopping 19st 11lbs.

It is understood that the sponsorship deal will cover Scotland's team when they tackle away assignments as well as when they are in action at home.

The announcement comes days after SRU Chief Executive Gordon McKie told the annual meeting that, financially, the picture was brighter than for some time.

"We have reported a break-even position after interest and our average bank debt has remained constant – an achievement itself in a Rugby World Cup year – and increased confidence in our abilities to manage our sport has led to increased government belief and public sector investment.

"A desire to be part of a flourishing team has seen Scottish Rugby on the receiving end of substantial sponsorship deals and other commercial programmes.

"Overall, with our new strategic plan in place, alongside our first ever performance plan, we can confirm that the organisation now has sound financial procedures," added McKie.

Finance director Eamon Hegarty added: "Current year cash flow performances since April 2008 has been exceptional ... total bank borrowings in early May dropped below 15 million for several days."

Mr Hegarty reported a year-end debt of 17.6m compared to 17.4m in April 2007. Earlier this year, the SRU announced a kit sponsorship deal with Canterbury reckoned to be worth around 1m while the loss of long-standing jersey sponsors The Famous Grouse was offset by a deal that brought businessman David Murray's companies on board. That has been estimated at 2.7m over three years.