Historic appointment for rugby club

An Edinburgh rugby club founded in 1919 says it is looking to boost the gender diversity of its ranks after strengthening its leadership team with the hiring of two women, including its first female board member.

Melissa Singh pictured with club President Stevie Douglas and

Boroughmuir Rugby Club has announced the appointments of Melissa Singh to the board and Vicki Scott as honorary vice president.

The club added that while it has never prevented women joining the board, this is the first such hire in its history.

Singh joins the Meggetland club as marketing and communications director. She has worked in both the public and private sector, and is currently commercial manager at digital services firm Atos. Singh also holds non-executive roles with publishing and property-management companies and became involved in the rugby club last year.

She said: “I am delighted to get involved with a club that makes such a positive difference to its local community.”

Scott has been appointed to a position usually awarded to past presidents, but Boroughmuir said the member of 15 years’ standing was given the role in recognition of the “outstanding” service she has provided over many years.

She will be an ambassador for the club and will focus on fundraising activities and driving the club forward, having already managed pre-match lunches and fundraising with The Bill McLaren Foundation.

Scott has also played a key role in connecting the youth and senior sections of the club, which Boroughmuir said represents “a major step-change”.

She said: “My children both developed their love of rugby at Boroughmuir and I’ve always enjoyed contributing to the club… I look forward to helping drive it forward.”

Boroughmuir said the appointments come as more women than ever play rugby, and are the latest sign of its ambitions after last year launching a Youth Rugby Academy and recently applying for the Scottish Rugby Union’s Super 6.

The club is also looking to create a formal women’s team.

Stevie Douglas, president of Boroughmuir, said: “Melissa brings drive and energy to the club, while Vicki will continue to help the club towards a strong family and community-based future.

“While we recognise that this the first time the club has appointed a woman to the board, we hope this will encourage other female figures to get involved and lead to an even greater gender balance in future.”

Boroughmuir added that it is one of only a few Scottish rugby clubs with women in senior roles. It highlighted Scottish Rugby Union having Lesley Thomson, formerly of Melrose, as a non-executive director, and Dee Bradbury, previously at Oban, as vice president.