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http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=1788582005



Pro teams' sponsors target Irish tourists

DAVID FERGUSON

SCOTLAND'S rugby teams have turned to tourism in a bid to improve the atmosphere at professional matches.

In a new three-year sponsorship deal with VisitScotland, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Borders will receive around £70,000 each and VisitScotland will appear on the jersey sleeves. But the deal could be worth more to pro rugby in Scotland if the organisation's plans outside the country prove successful.

Lesley Craig, VisitScotland's area director for Glasgow, explained: "The aim is not only to support the teams but also to increase tourism to Scotland through rugby. We hope we can raise the profile of rugby, but also attract more visitors from the lucrative Irish market, in particular, because research has shown that people there like to travel to away games.

"We will be promoting and advertising the Scottish team games in the Celtic League, for example, in Wales and Ireland, working with our carriers on a range of direct air and sea services into Scotland."

Attendances for Scotland's three teams have rarely risen above 5,000. The best atmosphere at Murrayfield and Hughenden has, arguably, involved games featuring Ulster and their fervent fans, many of whom live in Scotland.

Scotland and Glasgow captain Jon Petrie admitted: "Players and supporters all want a good atmosphere, whether it's our own or Irish fans. This deal benefits us in getting more money into the pro teams, but hopefully it will also encourage more away supporters to come to Scotland - and the more supporters the better the atmosphere for us."

Meanwhile, the new SRU regime could be heading for problems with the country's professional players, over new standardised contracts. Jim Hay, the chairman of the Scottish Rugby Players Association, revealed that few players had signed the new contracts and he received support from his English, Welsh and Irish counterparts at a meeting in Edinburgh yesterday as he presses the SRU for improvements.

He said: "We're not concerned with what a Scotland player is being paid to be honest, but to the lack of attention to areas like rest, holidays and terms of notice for players. That's not professional and unless issues like this are brought up-to-date the players won't sign the contracts. And then we have a problem."

But as many did not sign contracts last season, it will not threaten the start of this campaign.