Scottish Rugby bets on growth of American market with a 25 per cent stake in Old Glory

According to sources in the USA, Scottish Rugby has all but taken an approximate 25 per cent stake in the new Major League Rugby (MLR) franchise, Washington Old Glory. (The name is a reference to the American flag).

The deal has yet to be officially signed off but that is due to an administrative hurdle that will be overcome.

Last Friday MLR was officially sanctioned by USA Rugby as the “official” American professional league.

This sanctioning agreement has yet to be officially signed off and it seems that Scottish Rugby’s stake in Old Glory is dependent upon that happening. An announcement is expected in the next few days confirming both the official sanctioningofthemlrbyusa Rugby and Scottish Rugby’s subsequent investment.

It is not known what the cost of an approximate 25 per cent stake was to Murrayfield but it is understood that the payment is scheduled over a number of years and is believed to be in the region of £500,00 to £750,000.

Murrayfield chiefs are already fielding some tricky

0 Dominic Mckay: Driving force.

questions about the best use of hard-earned resources. With Super Six now looking inevitable, Scottish Rugby’s decision to invest in a USA start-up rather than back another couple of teams in a Super Eight competition, has inevitably come under the microscope.

It is thought that Scottish Rugby’s chief operating officer Dominic Mckay is the driving force behind this initiative.

It was Mckay who first met Old Glory owner Paul Sheehy a few years back when there was talk of setting up a Pro14 franchise in Washington. That didn’t happen but the pair have evidently stayed in touch.

Old Glory is one of three expansion teams due to join MLR next season, along with sides in Boston and Atlanta.

The league currently boasts nine teams and will number 12 when the expansion takes place in 2020. Englishman Mike Ford coaches the Dallas side.