Sir David Murray, one of Scottish football's leading figures, was unveiled yesterday as the new sponsor of the country's rugby team.

One of Scottish football's leading figures was unveiled yesterday as the new sponsor of the country's rugby team.

Sir David Murray, the chairman of Rangers FC, will invest almost £1m a year into rugby union over the next three years.

The name of his privately owned company, Murray International, will feature on the national team shirts as part of the £2.7m sponsorship deal.

Supporters from both sides of the sporting divide - those who follow the round ball and fans of the oval - welcomed the deal yesterday. Sir David's sponsorship replaces that of Famous Grouse, which ended its 17-year shirt sponsorship deal with the Scottish Rugby Union last month.

Although he will be forever associated with Glasgow Rangers, Sir David is a lifelong rugby fan who played the game until a car accident in which he lost his legs.

He said: "The sport of rugby has always held a special place in my heart and so I was delighted to take this opportunity to support the game in Scotland.

"From a business point of view, we have supported many sports over the years including football, hockey, basketball and volleyball, and this sponsorship will play a major role in further building our group profile both within and outside of Scotland."

At the press conference to announce the investment, Sir David criticised the government and other private businesses for disregarding the importance of sport in Scotland. He said: "I've just gone through a major thing at Rangers which was called Scotland's Shame', the sectarianism at Rangers.

"We worked very, very hard to eliminate that and I think there has been a vast improvement and all credit must be given to the fans.

"But Scotland's shame is obesity, drugs and lack of opportunities for kids in sport. I am very disappointed personally when I see so many companies not aiding sport.

"It's crucial that business gets behind Scottish sport. When you run a big business in Scotland you also have a social responsibility to support sport and I hope other people take the lead.

"It should be a joint thing between government and business but I don't think there is any leadership or policy. Sport has to be a bigger social issue and we need to make it a priority."

Sir David was asked, given his views on obesity, if he had any plans to stop selling pies at Ibrox. He replied: "They are Weight Watcher's pies. What an angle. Unbelievable."

Frank Hadden, the head coach of the Scotland rugby team, which flies to France on Wednesday to prepare for its opening World Cup match against Portugal on Sunday, said he was delighted.

He said: "As good luck messages go, it couldn't be much better than this. The national team are in fine fettle and to have such a powerful endorsement at this time is immensely heartening."

Gordon McKie, chief executive of the SRU, said: "This is fantastic news for Scottish rugby just before the team heads off to France for the World Cup.

"It is particularly pleasing that we have replaced one of Scotland's best-known brands with one of Scotland's best-known entrepreneurs who is passionate about, and supportive of, all Scottish sport.

"We very much look forward to working closely with David Murray and his team over the years ahead in what promises to be an extremely beneficial, mutually rewarding relationship."

John Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, said: "I suppose some fans will feel he should be giving it to Ibrox rather than rugby, but to be fair to Sir David, he's ploughed a wealth of money into Ibrox already. I would be surprised and disappointed if Rangers supporters felt in any way annoyed.

"Any injection of money into sports is welcome."

The sponsorship period begins on November 1 and the Murray name will first appear on national team shirts in next year's Royal Bank of Scotland Six Nations Championship.