Scottish Rugby is set to benefit from the retirement of Sir Chris Hoy from competitive cycling. Sir Chris is set to take up an advisory role as one of his many post-retirement plans.
Sir Chris Hoy announced his retirement from cycling in his native Edinburgh bringing to an end an astonishing career. He quits cycling as Britain’s most successful Olympian ever with six gold medals and one silver to his name. For good measure he also has 11 World Championship gold medals, eight silver and six bronze and two Commonwealth Games golds and two bronzes. He is credited with taking cycling from a minority sport to being one of the most popular in the country.
Scottish fans ware disappointed that he has decided to retire before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later in the year but Hoy says that, at 37 years of age and with the punishment his body has taken over the years, he will not be able to reproduce the winning form that we are so used to. Hanging on to compete in Glasgow would result in disappointment for the fans and himself and could have a harmful effect on the Scottish team.
Sir Chris now plans to focus on his own bicycle brand and will carry on with his charity work for the Scottish Association of Mental Health and UNICEF. But he will not be lost to sport entirely. Although he has no intentions to take up coaching he has offered his services as an ambassador and mentor for future Scottish sports stars and has agreed to become an adviser to Scottish Rugby.
The significance of Sir Chris’s new role cannot be underestimated. Scottish domestic rugby is in decline, and has been for a while. Scottish performances in the Heineken Cup have been poor with efforts in the RaboDirect Pro12 not much better, the exception being Glasgow’s efforts this year that could see them run out winners or at least go close. The national side performed decently in this year’s Six Nations championship but even the most ardent fan would have to admit that the men in blue find it hard to hold their own on the international stage.
There is also a problem with the talent pool, with the number of senior male players registered being way below that of most other rugby playing nations, even Spain and Malaysia. And, the Scottish Rugby Union is still facing massive debts resulting from the disastrous introduction of the Border Rievers into the Celtic league.
Rugby in Scotland is not in a good state of health, but having a man like Sir Chris Hoy standing in the sidelines ready to offer advice and encouragement to players will be of incalculable benefit to the game. His name alone is enough to attract players and inspire them to give of their best.
Sir Chris has a reputation for having a deep desire to win and to make the necessary sacrifices to do so. He never shirked the hard work that needed to be put in and always seemed to find that little bit extra when the situation demanded. Scottish Rugby will be all the better for his presence.
Scotland sponsors Canterbury of New Zealand will also be pleased to have a man like Sir Chris on board. By raising the profile of Scottish Rugby he will also increase the exposure of the CCC brand, which can only be good for Canterbury and Scotland alike.
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My name is Eddard Blake and I am freelance rugby copywriter. The fact that Chris Hoy is going to be involved in the scotland national team is great for the nation.
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