SRU secures sponsor for three years of autumn Tests

THE Scottish Rugby Union has secured a sponsor for the next three years of autumn Tests to replace Bank of Scotland Corporate. This comes after the announcement that the BBC had agreed a deal to cover this month's Test series.

Technology company EMC Computer Systems (UK) has signed a three-year agreement, covering Scotland's matches with New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa this month, next year's August World Cup warm-ups with Italy and Ireland and the autumn Tests in 2012.

SRU chief executive Gordon McKie has been trying to attract a replacement for Bank of Scotland for more than a year, but after striking a deal with the BBC to screen the games Livingston-based EMC signed up last week.

McKie yesterday suggested the performances of the Scotland team through the 2010 RBS Six Nations Championship and in Argentina had played a key role in bringing what is believed to be a high six-figure investment to the Scottish game.

He said: "To secure such support from EMC Corporation, a major player on the world stage in the technology and IT solutions sector which employs over 40,000 people and is represented in more than 60 countries worldwide, is immensely heartening and speaks volumes for the impact that the Scotland team, under the leadership of head coach, Andy Robinson, is making and the esteem in which Scottish rugby is held."

EMC sponsor London Wasps and it was the former Wasps and Scotland winger Kenny Logan, through his company Logan Sports Marketing, who turned EMC onto the possibility of sponsoring Scottish rugby.

Ross Fraser, EMC's Country Manager for Scotland & Ireland, said: "We are delighted to be working with Scottish Rugby to promote what we expect will be some exciting and historic sporting occasions."