Moves to attract businesses to pro game show signs of profit

EFFORTS to attract investment to professional rugby is beginning to bear fruit, with one city businessman believing Edinburgh could build the support to mirror English Premiership clubs, writes David Ferguson.

More than 20 businesses in the capital have signed up to the Edinburgh Rugby Business Club, launched this year by chief executive Craig Docherty. The idea was one of several he promoted last season vetoed by the former SRU chief executive, Gordon McKie, and finance director Eamon Hegarty.

Docherty received fresh support from new SRU chief executive Mark Dodson to launch the club with an initial sign-up fee of just £2,500, and a target of 40 members by next season. He said: “The point was to bring businesses on board to help us create an identity around Edinburgh, and an understanding of what professional rugby in Scotland is about. But I’ve found people – businesses people – don’t know what the pro clubs do, or what players do between Scotland games. So if we’re asking business people to invest in us, naturally they need to understand what they are investing in.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Iain McLean, a partner with leading UK corporate law firm Biggart Baillie, grew up as a rugby supporter in the Borders and he was attracted by the business club. “It will take a lot of work to run a professional club on crowds of 5,000 and less,” he said, “so they need business support. Craig and Jim brought us into a forum and then launched the business club, and £2,500 for four tickets, dinner at a Heineken Cup match and various other fringe benefits was exceptionally good value.

“The Friday night of the Racing Metro game was the most enjoyable evening of corporate entertainment I’ve had in a long while – nice meal, good company and then it all happened on the pitch.

“I don’t see why we can’t build something like they have at English clubs, with the support of the business community in the capital.”

Related topics: