Eight programmes to compete in 'Open' conference revealed
Yesterday at 06:53 AM
THE eight youth rugby programmes to compete in Scottish Rugby’s new ‘Open’ boys’ conference – an elite tier at the top of the domestic under-18s and under-16s structure have been announced – have been announced, consisting of five private schools and three clubs.
The season for this ‘Open Competition’ will run for seven weeks between September and December 2025, allowing for youth and school cup competitions to run in parallel.
The successful applicants are:
Schools:
- Dollar Academy
- George Watson’s College
- Merchiston Castle School
- Strathallan School
- Stewart’s Melville College.
Clubs:
- Ayr RFC
- Boroughmuir Rugby
- Stirling County RFC.
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There is no programmes from the Borders, with funding and lack player depth in individual towns understood to be a prohibitive factor. Strathallan in Perthshire is the northernmost programme, and while five of the eight successful applicants for this initial cohort are based in Edinburgh, there are none from Glasgow, Aberdeen or Dundee.
“The purpose of the Open Competition is to create meaningful fixtures for the best school and club programmes in the country. It was borne from a 2024 Scottish Rugby Under-18 pathway review recommendation,” said a statement by Scottish Rugby.
“It aligns with one of the emerging Rugby Development strategy aims – to strengthen links between performance and club rugby. This will be supported by strengthening the top end of boys schools and youth competitions next season.”
Scottish Rugby has also opened a new six-figure Youth Development funding stream, for clubs from its Growth and Participation Fund, available to support boys and girls development. Grants of up to £14,000 are available to enhance club programmes (at U16 and U18 age groups specifically), “with the goal of growing participation and nurturing future professional and international players”.
"We've had a robust process in place to select these programmes, and are confident we have picked the top eight U16/U18 rugby programmes in the country,” said Gav Scott, Scottish Rugby's Head of Rugby Development. “This included in-person visits to each programme registering interest in the Open Competition.
"We are excited to have this new layer of competition announced and are grateful to the club and school volunteers and staff for engaging in the process, who invest their time to create excellent youth programmes at so many clubs and schools.
"We're equally excited to have a balanced and competitive structure sitting underneath this top layer, where meaningful matches will be played also.
“Scottish Rugby will review the Open Competition regularly, and aspires to have more clubs and schools joining in future, including broadening the geographical split of participating rugby programmes.
"We recognise there is not an even split in terms of representation from each of our regions. We aspire to get there, and we will strategically work with and invest in clubs and schools programmes who want to get to that level of competition."
Plan takes shape to finally get top clubs and schools competing in same conference
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