SRU chair Grassie to stand down
● Former banking executive remains focused on essential work during the coronavirus crisis
Scottish Rugby Union chairman Colin Grassie is to stand down in August, the governing body has announced.
Having joined the board of the SRU as an independent non-executive director in 2012, he was appointed chairman of the board in 2017.
But Grassie has confirmed his intention to stand down from both roles at the next SRU agm.
Scottish Rugby Board chairman Colin Grassie is to stand down from his role at the SRU’S agm, which is still scheduled to take place this August amid the coronavirus crisis.
Grassie was appointed chairman in 2017 after joining the board of Scottish rugby’s ruling body in 2012. The former Deutsche Bank executive was due to leave the chairman’s role in December 2019 but then agreed to stay on for a further 18 months.
That has now changed and Grassie said: “I have been immensely proud to hold the position of chairman over the past three years and I’d like to thank each and every board member I have had the pleasure of working with for their support and guidance.
“I intend to give the essential work now under way during the Covid-19 crisis my complete focus and full attention until such time as we can bring our member clubs together for our next AGM.
“Whilst the board tackles its challenges from a virtual boardroom we are especially conscious and respectful of all those people who are literally on a front line and many who perform often thankless work to keep our daily lives as normal as possible. We are as a board very grateful.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges on a daily basis and I believe we have the right people in place to tackle this head-on.”
The SRU said it would take time to consult before making final recommendations on structural or governance matters, a review process which was introduced after the unfair dismissal ruling against former director of domestic rugby Keith Russell.
The SRU statement read: “This year’s AGM has been scheduled for Saturday 15 August, although that date remains subject to coronavirus related restrictions on travel and gatherings being lifted.
“The board is exploring all ways to ensure that essential AGM matters including ratification and election of office bearers still proceed, should Covid-19 restrictions continue in force on 15 August. Scottish
“We are facing unprecedented challenges on a daily basis and I believe we have the right people in place to tackle this head-on”
COLIN GRASSIE
Rugby will be writing to club secretaries shortly with further information and guidance in connection with AGM business and timescales. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”
With the game, like all national life at present, dominated by the virus pandemic, the SRU gave the following statement on the current situation: “Like many organisations Scottish Rugby and the whole rugby community face significant challenges on multiple fronts as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our clear priority as the board of Scottish Rugby is the well-being of our staff and players and the financial wellbeing of the organisation. We also remain very focused on the wider health of the club game in Scotland.
“It is to the credit of everybody at Scottish Rugby, including the players and off-field staff, that the organisation has been able to move smoothly into the furloughing phase.
“The government’s Job Retention Scheme is a very welcome intervention which many employers are accessing. As a Board we would like to formally place on record our sincere thanks to all our players and staff for all their hard work and contribution to the organisation since this pandemic started.
“This week… the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a stark reminder of the challenges facing sporting organisations, big and small, who all wish to return to competitive sport at every level.
“This message will be felt in every club in Scotland and we will need continued patience as to when we can resume.
“In the meantime, we are working very closely with the Scottish Government and other sports to understand how we can best play our part in getting sport played once the conditions are right.”