Sports Minister, Shona Robison, today backed the appointment of Mark Dodson as the new Chief Executive of Scottish Rugby.

Speaking shortly after his appointment was announced yesterday, she said: “Scottish Rugby is about to embark on an exciting new era with Mark Dodson at the helm and I congratulate him on his appointment.

“Mark brings a high level of business experience to the post and will make a real and positive impact on rugby in Scotland.

“It is an exciting time for the sport with the World Cup coming up and Scotland’s national team rising to seventh in the world. I look forward to working with Mark in the years ahead.”

In an exclusive interview with www.scottishrugby.org at Murrayfield Stadium, Dodson voiced his enthusiasm for the game and pledged to support Scotland’s professional teams with his commercial clout.

Dodson, who joins from his most recent position as Chief Executive Officer of the Guardian Media Group’s Regional Media division, said: “The pro teams are going to be one of our areas of key focus.

"We have to bring energy to the pro teams, we have to make them more competitive and we have to help them raise income and raise finance so they can spend more money on the player and supporter experience.

“One of the reasons I was brought in was to add commercial experience to the game of rugby and to try and drive the nation forward through a sound commercial and playing strategy.”