New £20 million fund for Scottish Rugby welcomed by Biggar RFC's Mike Booth

Biggar Rugby Club’s Mike Booth says funding will be godsend as soon as full training restarts after Covid delay

The money – to support the sport in light of the impact of Covid-19 and restrictions on hosting spectators at professional and international matches – will be split into a £15 million grant to the sport and £5 million in low-interest loans.

Mike told the Carluke and Lanark Gazette: “The difficult bit that we’re planning for is if competitive rugby comes back without us being able to have a crowd, then we’re paying out money and we’ve got no money coming in.

“Money will be going out immediately as we can start training fully again.

“We will be paying for coaches, lighting, heating, so on and so forth and nothing is coming back in at that point.

“That’s going to be the difficult bit for all the clubs, I think.

“That’s where we are going to need some help.

“I don’t yet know how this money will benefit Biggar Rugby Club at the moment.

“I’ve not seen anything about how and where it’s going.

“I have a feeling it’s going to prop up the professional sides, whether it’s international, Pro14 or the Super 6, or the Super Five as it might be before too long.”

Biggar, who aren’t due to resume competitive rugby until August, when they will line up in Tennent’s National Division 1, have already had help from Scottish Rugby in the form of £6,000 paid to each National 1 club to help during the pandemic.

“We hope to be able to get some friendlies played in July because everybody’s rusty,” Mike said.

“In the close season, there will possibly be some sevens competitions put on, I think, as fundraising for clubs, as well as to work some cobwebs out.

“The way they’re talking about the vaccine rollout, I’m hopeful that we’ll then be able to start a proper competitive season.”

Commenting on the £20 million cash injection, Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson said: “The funding package today is a massive boost to our sport at a critical time and I’d like to thank the Scottish Government for its generous and timely support which will underwrite rugby in the months and years ahead.”