Scottish Rugby Limited [SRL] – the Board which runs the game in Scotland on a day-to-day basis – has been accused of “disgraceful” behaviour in the way it has handled an accusation of institutional sexism during the creation of a new governance structure for the organisation.
This comes after a press release issued by SRL last Friday evening revealed that Julia Bracewell, a former Board member, had raised concerns about representation and attitudes on SCOG (the standing committee which drew up the governance structure adopted by the Union following a vote of member clubs late last year).
An external review was instructed and while its findings have not been published, the release stated that “there is a need for people involved in the governance review to reflect and consider their bias and how, in particular, they support women i.e. becoming male allies.”
It has since emerged that members of SCOG were not notified of this review and were blindsided by publication of the press release.
"I've never seen a press release coming out of Murrayfield like that in my life," said Gordon Thomson, chairman of Aberdeen Grammar, who was a member of SCOG.
"I've never known Scottish Rugby to selectively pick pieces out of external reviews that they instruct – never showing anybody the instructing letter or the reports and for them to go public at one minute to five on a Friday night, that smacks to me of something strange going on.
"Everyone is appalled that such a broad attack on a group of volunteers who spent many years working on the new governance structure has been made," continued Thomson. "It's nothing short of disgraceful. If you're going to make allegations, surely someone would come and speak to us?
"I think some people will be looking to speak to lawyers after the Easter break, because everyone who knows about Scottish Rugby knows who was on SCOG. Litigation is now a possibility."
Meanwhile, Hazel Swankie – a serving SRL Board member who was part of SCOG and is understood to be one of less than half a dozen people interviewed for the review – distanced herself from the accusations of sexism.
“Since joining the SRU Council in 2018 as your Midlands Representative and then in 2020 being elected onto the Standing Committee on Governance SCOG, I can honestly say that I have never felt discriminated against or indeed never witnessed any discrimination, entirely the opposite, I have been treated by all, Council, SCOG and yourselves with the upmost respect, for the person I am and the position I am fulfilling as your representative,” she said in an email sent to club representatives she previously represented when on the now disbanded SRU Council.
“I do not recognise the comments in the press articles and as your representative I wanted to let you all know.”
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