Women vote to join up with the SRU

WOMEN'S rugby has backed a fully-integrated game in Scotland by voting unanimously at its agm in favour of amalgamating the Scottish Rugby Union and the SWRU.

If the move receives majority support at the men's agm on 27 June the SWRU will cease to exist after more than 15 years at the helm of women's rugby and thus the remit of Scottish Rugby will expand to govern all aspects of rugby in the country.

Full integration, supported by the increased female participation at all levels, would allow female sides to become an equal part of a rugby club, rather than a separate entity.

Sandra Kinnear, chairperson of the SWRU, believes that as the game grows, the time is right to bring men's and women's rugby together. She said: "Scottish Rugby and the SWRU have been committed to investigating the plausibility of a united union and have been involved in an extensive consultation to investigate the benefits gained for both women's and men's rugby."