RU seeks first marketing chief
The Scottish Rugby Union is hunting for its first marketing director following a review of Scottish rugby by Lord Mackay in the summer.
The SRU is responsible for running rugby union throughout Scotland, including the domestic and international game. It handles top events such as the Six Nations championships and the Rugby World Cup.
The body, which is based at Murrayfield stadium, already has a head of marketing, Laura Laidlaw, but it is keen to step up its marketing activities with the creation of a more senior role.
The new chief’s first job will be to draw up a comprehensive plan to maximise the SRU’s income-generation.
The SRU has been heavily criticised over its role in the organisation of games during the Rugby World Cup. Some stadia were half-empty for group matches, with a mixture of high ticket prices, unsuitable kick-off times, and poor marketing being blamed.
Many commentators have also questioned the appeal of rugby union in Scotland. Only 15,661 people were at Murrayfield to watch Scotland’s most crucial World Cup game – the play-off match against Samoa – out of a possible 67,500 capacity.
Lord Mackay’s 50-page report on Scottish rugby, which took six months to compile, has resulted in a major shake-up of the organisation, including a new domestic league structure.
