Independent Corporate Governance and Business Review

The blueprint has been drawn up at a time of unprecedented growth for Scottish Rugby and the fast-changing global landscape, both sporting and commercial, in which it operates.

The wide-ranging Review has been distributed directly to all Scottish Rugby’s member clubs for their consideration today ahead of a meeting for club members in January 2020.

Scottish Rugby President Dee Bradbury said: “After extensive consultation, Sir Bill Gammell and Norman Murray have concluded their Governance review of Scottish Rugby and I’d like to thank them for their time and expertise.

“We believe Scottish Rugby is in a strong position to face the challenges ahead. Our principal task is to develop, enhance and promote rugby across Scotland while navigating a fast changing social and sporting landscape.

“Rugby’s success therefore depends on the hard work, commitment and dedication of people who play and support rugby at every level of the game – grassroots, clubs and the professional teams.

The Gammell-Murray Review builds on the progress we have all made.

Scottish Rugby’s Board and Council are supportive of the Review’s principles and it is now over to our member clubs to consider and debate its proposals.”

Sir Bill Gammell was assisted in his review by Norman Murray and convened over 70 meetings in producing their recommendations.

Having considered the views of those interviewed and drawing on their own extensive governance and business experience they reported back to the Scottish Rugby Council’s Standing Committee on Governance (independently chaired by Gavin MacColl QC).

The Committee considered the recommendations and passed the Review to the Scottish Rugby Council and Board, which have both endorsed the Review in principle.

The Gammell/Murray Review proposes a brand-new governance structure with a ‘New Scottish Rugby Board’ that is directly accountable to clubs, with appointments for six nominated non-executive director roles split equally between rugby and commercial experience, an independent Chairman and three Executive Directors.

The roles of President and Vice President would be combined, with President acting as an ambassador for Scottish Rugby and elected by clubs on an annual basis.

The Review also proposes two new bodies to reflect the changing face of rugby in today’s sporting and business climate.

A Rugby Development Board is recommended, made up of 10 standing members with backgrounds across all aspects of the domestic game, with responsibility for the management and growth of the grassroots game in Scotland.

It is proposed six independent members nominated from the domestic game would be appointed to the RDB, which would have an independent Chair. It would also include Scottish Rugby’s Director of Rugby Development, up to two other Scottish Rugby appointees and an ability to appoint two further independent members.

A Professional Performance Board is also recommended to oversee the sporting elements of the game from FOSROC Super6 through to the professional teams to the Scotland national teams including professional referees and match officials and the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy.

The PPB would be comprised of nine members with backgrounds across all aspects of the professional game.

Chaired by the Scottish Rugby CEO it would include the Performance Director, Scotland Head Coach, Scotland Women Head Coach, Super6 Tournament Director, Scottish Rugby Technical Director and Chief Operating Officer with an ability to appointment two further independent members.

Sir Bill Gammell and Norman Murray said in completing the Review:

“It is increasingly clear that the structure and constitution of the Scottish Rugby Union needs further reform and improvement to reflect the dramatic changes in the game at this time.

“We believe that while the proposals are radical, they are pioneering, progressive and positive for the whole of the Scottish Rugby community, aligning ‘As One’.

We are delighted to therefore receive the visionary, bold and brave endorsement in principle of the Board and Council.

“Scottish Rugby must have a future-proofed organisation that has the skills and structure to develop both the domestic and professional game and ensure that the two sides of the sport are working together. We believe our proposal, if adopted, would give Scottish Rugby a world-class governance structure.”

Former Scotland Internationalist and Chairman of Stewart’s Melville RFC Finlay Calder expressed his support for the Review.

He said: “What this Review is doing is professionalising the game. It’s taken us 25 years to get here but its future proofing us for 2020 and beyond and if we don’t embrace this, then what else do you want to do?

I believe separating the domestic and professional game is the best way forward and it is key we get everybody involved working towards a common purpose to ensure we are a successful rugby country.”

Scottish Rugby’s Council and Board’s initiated this Review given their commitment to maintaining the highest possible standards of governance, a stance endorsed by both bodies in September last year (2018). The Council and Board consider that Sir Bill Gammell and Norman Murray’s combined extensive and high-profile experience in business, corporate governance and sport related matters made them ideally placed to conduct this Review.

The full Gammell/Murray Review and supporting documents can be found HERE