Back row L-R: Martin Milarky, of the Scottish Government’s Justice Department; Jon Welsh; G4S Events’ Mark Hamilton; Moray Low.

G4S Street Rugby

G4S Events has agreed a three year, six-figure sponsorship deal supporting Scottish Rugby’s successful youth community initiative.

Working in conjunction with local police, and supported by CashBack for Communities funding from the Scottish Government, G4S Street Rugby takes a non-contact grassroots game to young people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, targeting areas with crime and anti-social behaviour problems.

“G4S Street Rugby is a great introduction to the sport as it gets the basic skill elements across,” Glasgow Warriors prop Jon Welsh said. “Using things like plastic mannequins or giant inflatable
goalposts keeps it pretty basic and, importantly, fun.”

“It’s a simple, effective way to engage youngsters in the sport,” teammate Moray Low said. “It provides a healthy outlet in areas where anti-social behaviour is high, while introducing more and more kids to the great game of rugby.”

“We understand the importance of investing in and developing people to help them reach their full potential,” Mark Hamilton, managing director at G4S Events, said. “These priorities lie at the heart of this initiative and we are proud to be able to support it. By investing in local communities we are helping prevent the causes of anti-social behaviour and reduce crime, which will benefit staff and visitors at the events we supply services to.”

“We want to be the fastest growing sport in Scotland,” Scottish Rugby’s head of community rugby, Colin Thomson, said. “We’ve set targets to have an extra 11,000 regular players by 2012. We can link this activity to schools and local rugby clubs through our nationwide network of jointly funded development officers.”

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