Scottish Rugby Union lastly apologise to Siobhan Cattigan’s household

The Scottish Rugby Union have issued an apology to the household of Siobhan Cattigan after they admitted their failure to move on her funeral particulars to her team-mates. 

The Union have admitted that they let the household down in sure facets, together with their failure to tell Siobhan’s team-mates of her funeral, and an insufficient tribute at Murrayfield. 

John McGuigan – the brand new Chair of Scottish Rugby – admitted within the AGM on Saturday, that they ‘didn’t intend to trigger misery to the household by our actions it is clear we should always have managed this tragic scenario higher. 

Cattigan, who handed away at 26 in November 2021, died very out of the blue with no reason behind demise given on the time. 

Since her demise, questions have been raised surrounding the shortage of protocols for rugby gamers when sustaining repetitive mind accidents.

During the AGM, McGuigan went on to say: ‘Siobhan was a vastly proficient rugby participant who performed for Scotland, incomes 19 caps. She was enthusiastic about rugby being a dedicated ambassador for the game, alongside her important tutorial achievements and charity work. 

Questions have been raised about Scottish Rugby’s failure to help mind accidents sustained

Siobhan handed away out of the blue in 2021, with no reason behind demise given on the time

‘I’m subsequently very grateful to Mr and Mrs Cattigan and Ms Taylor for inviting me into their residence and offering a deeply private account of Siobhan’s time with Scottish Rugby. Having listened to the household I would like on behalf of Scottish Rugby to make an apology.

‘We additionally take duty for Scottish Rugby’s dealing with of sure parts surrounding Siobhan’s funeral, together with not relaying the household’s needs to each participant which meant a few of Siobhan’s team-mates didn’t get the chance to attend her funeral. 

‘We additionally let the household down by indirectly contacting the household nor visiting after Siobhan’s passing to supply our condolences. 

In the months after her demise, her dad and mom revealed in an interview with the Sunday Times that ‘rugby-related mind accidents’ had a detrimental have an effect on on Siobhan’s psychological well being. 

They famous a change in Siobhan’s character and claimed that: ‘It had obtained to the purpose the place she may not dwell with the ache in her head and Siobhan succumbed to an irrational thought and impulsive motion.

At the time, Scottish Rugby mentioned that they ‘absolutely acknowledge the seriousness of what the household have shared’, however they did ‘not recognise or settle for’ among the claims made.

While the reason for demise was unclear, Scottish Rugby mentioned they might present ‘help’ to these most affected. Police Scotland weren’t made conscious of the rugby star’s demise, because it was instructed it was non-suspicious.

Cattigan received 19 caps for her nation, and represented Stirling, handed away out of the blue, with rugby greats paying tribute to the ‘inspirational’ Scottish girls’s star.