Bill McLaren Foundation bids to get more youngsters involved in rugby

THE Bill McLaren Foundation yesterday launched its first big initiative – a three-year programme which aims to encourage more youngsters to participate in, and enjoy playing, rugby throughout Scotland.

The £180,000 programme, funded jointly with the Winning Scotland Foundation (WSF), will be run with the active co-operation of the Scottish Rugby Union and is targeted at all rugby clubs and rugby-playing schools in the country.

It is the latest venture to be produced by Positive Coaching Scotland, a body which has the support of the WSF. By encouraging supportive attitudes from coaches and parents, and emphasising the enjoyment which playing rugby can bring, Positive Coaching Scotland aims not only to produce better players, but also to help in the general social development of the next generation of adults.

Bosman du Plessis, a rugby development officer with the Dumfries Saints club, has been appointment as full-time Positive Coaching Scotland Manager for the SRU, with the brief of implementing the programme throughout the country.

“It’s a fantastic honour to be asked to lead this programme,” he said. “Bill McLaren earned the respect of the international rugby community through the values he lived by and believed in. As a coach, you know that there are always a few players who will progress to the highest level of the game and you want to give them the tools and encouragement to do so.

“However, according to the latest figures, 99.5 per cent of the youngsters in front of you will not play elite level, so I see my role as ensuring that the coaches and teachers give the kids the rugby knowledge and life skills for life beyond sport.”

Linda Lawson, daughter of the late television commentator, gave her backing to the new initiative. “This Positive Coaching programme epitomises the very essence of what my father believed and practised,” she said. “Rugby is more than just a sport – dad believed passionately that rugby was an excellent vehicle for developing life skills, discipline and a team ethic which will stand young people in good stead all their days.

“This enterprise will be for youngsters as well as their parents, who also have a major role to play.”