Loretto School Announces Inaugural Bill MacLaren Foundation Under 10 Rugby Tournament
Loretto School has announced its inaugural Under 10 rugby tournament in partnership with the Bill McLaren Foundation.
The ‘Bill McLaren Foundation and Loretto School Under 10 Rugby Tournament’, to take place on Sunday, 28th September at Newfield playing fields at Loretto School, has already attracted a large number of teams from all over Scotland – from Perthshire, East Lothian and Edinburgh to Fife and the Scottish Borders.
Bill McLaren was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as ‘the voice of rugby’and he was renowned throughout the sport – his enthusiasm and a memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many.
Following Bill McLaren’s death in 2010, The Bill McLaren Foundation was set up in Bill’s name, with the support of his family, to serve three purposes :
- To develop and promote the sport of rugby union and its values
- To encourage and provide sporting opportunities for young people
- To create an educative centre which will include the Bill McLaren Archive
Jonathan Hewat, Director of External Affairs at Loretto School said, “Bill believed passionately in encouraging children, all shapes and sizes to get involved in sport and to do their best for themselves, for their team and at the same time to honour the game. He believed that sport and rugby in particular was a great way of helping youngsters develop life skills. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Bill McLaren Foundation to ensure that this Under 10 rugby tournament instils respect for team mates, for the opposition and for the officials which was central to Bill’s teaching as were discipline, sportsmanship and developing the concept of team and ethos.
Linda Lawson, Foundation Trustee and Bill’s daughter, added, “The Bill McLaren Foundation is delighted to be associated with Loretto School with its wonderful rugby heritage and fine tradition of playing sport and in particular with this under 10 Tournament to be played at Newfield. Fun and friendship are at the heart of the rugby game and these two elements aligned with a controlled physical contest makes this game so relevant for youngsters as they prepare to face the many challenges and demands of the modern world.”
The tournament, sponsored by Savills, takes place on Sunday, 28th September at Newfield Playing Fields at Loretto School and starts at 10:30 a.m.
Teams confirmed, as of 24/7/14, include;
Galashiels Mini Maroons
Heriots
Howe RFC
Hawick Minis
King’s Meadow Primary School, Haddington
Loretto A
Loretto B
Musselburgh A
Musselburgh B
Perthshire
Prestonpans
Portobello Minis
St Andrew’s Madrascals