London Scottish has unveiled ambitious plans to restore the club to its position amongst the country’s elite clubs. One of the oldest and most respected clubs in the game, London Scottish has secured £1.5million funding in a bid to reach National League 1 within the next 3 years. With the overwhelming support and backing of the membership, a separate company has been formed in an effort to guide London Scottish back to the top.
A group of investors, led by Chris Rea and Kenny Logan, and including a number of prominent figures from the business, financial and service sectors, has agreed to fund the venture. It is anticipated that additional financial support will come from within the membership.
The plans embrace a major recruitment campaign aimed at strengthening the playing squad and coaching staff, along with the development of the Academy and Community schemes.
Simon Amor, who has played Premiership rugby for Gloucester and Wasps and, as England’s Sevens captain, was named IRB Sevens Player of the Year, has joined the club, along with the former Northampton Saints back row forward Mark Soden, Worcester Warriors backs James Brown and Gary Trueman, Scotland sevens cap Ian McInroy and Ben Gotting, also ex Worcester.
They are joined by Scottish International Iain Fullarton and ex-Wasps star Paul Volley.
Speaking of the plans, Kenny Logan, who won 70 Scottish caps, said, “The recruitment of such quality players is a clear indication of our determination to take London Scottish back to the top, and it is a measure of the club’s standing in the game, that they want to be a part of this exciting journey”
Chris Rea, the former Scotland and British Lions’ centre said, “Throughout its long and distinguished history, London Scottish has been inextricably linked with Scottish rugby, and no club has contributed more players to the national side. It is our hope and aim not only to restore London Scottish to its rightful place in the club hierarchy, but to get that conveyor belt of Scots qualified talent rolling again”.
Following a damaging flirtation with the professional game in the nineties, and the club’s subsequent demotion to Herts/ Middlesex 1 – level 9 in the RFU structure – London Scottish has succeeded in winning five promotions in the last eight years, and last season, finished fifth in National League 3. Leading that charge has been club President Rod Lynch, who will be chairman of the new board.
“This is an exciting time to be a London Scot”, said Lynch. “Our years of rebuilding from the failure of our first brush with professionalism are at an end, as we challenge for promotion to the top of the national leagues, with a first class playing set up, backed by financial support from within our own ranks.”
