Loretto School is to host the second Under 10 rugby tournament in partnership with the Bill McLaren Foundation.
The ‘Bill McLaren Foundation and Loretto School Under 10 Rugby Tournament’ will take place on 6 March at Loretto School, involving 150 boys and girls cheered on by hundreds of spectators. There are to be three competitions – the shield, the plate and the cup competition.
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 Communications at Loretto School, said: “We are thrilled to be once again working in partnership with the Bill McLaren Foundation. 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.
“Sunday’s Under 10 rugby tournament to be a great success will instil 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. Fun and friendship will be very much at the heart of Sunday’s tournament. We are delighted to be welcoming teams from East Lothian, Midlothian, Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.”
