Scottish Rugby announces new domestic structure

Scottish Rugby Union has confirmed the creation of six new semi-professional franchise clubs and a revamped domestic structure.

According to the new structure, the Scotland board will invest £100,000 a year in each of the six clubs for a period of five years with an overall funding of £3.6million. All the six teams will be competing in a semi-pro league.

The Super Six will contain at least one team each from the north, east, west and Borders of Scotland with franchises running for five years and is set to be introduced from the 2019/20 season with 20 matches per season.

Underneath the semi pro league, there would be an amateur national league of four divisions each containing 12 clubs.

The funding from the board will be available for head coaches, strength and conditioning and analysis support while the cost for the 35 man playing squad will be split between the club and the SRU.

SRU chief executive Mark Dodson believes the creation of semi pro league will help the national team unearth a lot of talented players.

"For the first time since the game went professional this strategy involves all the clubs in the success of our national team. We want to create strong sustainable clubs that can play at the level which best suits them and that they can choose.

"We wanted to create clear pathways for players, coaches and officials, alongside closing the gap between our domestic game and the professional teams so we can maximise the resources we have and allow talented players to develop in good environments and fulfil their potential.

"We want to see clubs invest in their infrastructures and future growth so the National Leagues will have amateur status and the Super Six will be where player payments make better sense.

"This is not a radical plan, it is simply overdue and we look forward to working with all the clubs in Scotland to deliver this new structure for the wider benefit of the game at large."