Stevenson voted new SRU president

Stevenson lost out to Jack in last year's vote

The Scottish Rugby Union has a new president after a vote by member clubs at Friday's annual general meeting.

Jim Stevenson of Cambuslang Rugby Club pipped incumbent George Jack by 95 votes to 86.

Clubs also voted to to continue with the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup until a new season structure has been decided.

"I'm extremely humbled and delighted. Be assured I will always regard club views and requirements as the litmus test of opinion," said Stevenson.

One of Stevenson's primary campaign policies was to preserve the Scottish Cup, which Jack was in favour of scrapping in order to ease fixture congestion.

However, Stevenson argued that the cup was the highlight of the season for many clubs.

And a number of the clubs themselves had indicated they were opposed to the idea.

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SRU chairman Allan Munro, who was also in favour of a one-season break from the competition to reassess how fixtures could be better arranged, has been given a three-year extension in the role.

The president vote is a reversal of last year's election, when Jack beat Stevenson in a second ballot.

Earlier on Friday, Scottish Rugby chief executive Gordon McKie underlined his support for national team coach Frank Hadden.

"We are right behind Frank and we want him to carry on and to take the team back to where we want to be, and to see us through a very successful autumn Test window," said McKie.