Howe given a cash boost as Scottish Rugby jumps in to help our clubs

With expected revenue streams such as gate receipts and hospitality taking a battering due to the season ending early, Scottish Rugby were swift to introduce a Club Hardship Fund to help ease the burden.

Set up in March of this year in immediate response to the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the CHF was designed to help with club running costs between then and July, a period during which no rugby was expected to be played and no income earned.

In the Caledonia Midlands region, a total of 19 clubs will benefit from CHF money to the tune of £108,314.

Scottish Rugby has this week announced details of the recipients of its CHF with each of the 82 applicant clubs across the country set to benefit from the financial support initiative.

Almost £400,000 has been allocated from an initial fund of £500,000 with the remaining money ring-fenced for supporting other projects around the club game in the near future.

Candidates were able to apply for up to £5000 of funding, with higher claims considered in exceptional circumstances.

Clubs could apply for financial assistance across four categories: People, Premises, Utilities and Grounds, with each of Scottish Rugby’s five regions represented in subsequent successful CHF applications: East (30 clubs), Caledonia Midlands (19), Glasgow North (16), Glasgow South (9) and Caledonia North (8).

Scottish Rugby chief executive, Mark Dodson, said: “We launched the Club Hardship Fund in order to offer support to clubs at what has proved to be an extremely challenging time for those involved in the sport at community level.

“I am pleased that each applicant club will receive direct financial assistance to help where they need it most so that when rugby does resume, they are well placed to become community hubs once more.”

Scottish Rugby’s director of rugby development, Sheila Begbie, added that the body wanted to give clubs some financial support due to the lockdown and premature end of the season and that level of response from across the club game has been “really encouraging.”

“We have awarded a significant amount of money from the initial £500,000 fund and will issue the money at the end of this month, with the remainder earmarked for further investment in the club game,” she added.

As well as the Howe, those receiving cash include: Strathmore RFC, Madras RFC, Montrose RFC, Aberfeldy RFC, Kirkcaldy RFC, Perthshire RFC, Stirling County, DUMS, Alloa RFC, Strathendrick RFC, Dundee HSFP RFC, Rosyth Sharks RFC, Dunfermline RFC, Hillfoots RFC, Morgan RFC, Glenrothes RFC.