The contracted Academy players are aligned to either Edinburgh Rugby or Glasgow Warriors where they will train alongside the professional club’s senior players, whilst also participating in the FOSROC Super Series.

Having this base in the pro-teams allows the young players to not only accelerate their development by being immersed in the pro-team club environment earlier and more often, but also benefit from professional coaches and support staff.

The approach has seen several players progress within the Scottish Rugby system with eight from the 2022/23 group graduating from the academy to sign their first professional rugby contracts with either Edinburgh Rugby or Glasgow Warriors.

Jacob Henry, Jamie Campbell, Patrick Harrison, Cameron Scott, Nathan Sweeney, Harry Paterson and Mikey Jones have all signed with Edinburgh Rugby, whilst Euan Ferrie signed with Glasgow Warriors.

This year’s 30 academy players will all be eligible for the FOSROC Futures XV squad in the FOSROC Super Series.

Edinburgh Rugby welcome 11 new players to the club this summer, who will join the system alongside four current Academy players: Robbie Deans (loosehead prop), Harri Morris (hooker), Liam McConnell (back-row) and Finn Douglas (winger).

Glasgow Warriors will introduce 10 new players to their club at the start of the new season, who join the retained Tom Banatavala (loosehead prop), Callum Norrie (tighthead prop), Harris McLeod (lock), Ben Salmon (centre) and Logan Jarvie (winger).

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Player Transition Kenny Murray said: “It’s a really exciting time of the year for these young players, and in particular for the 20 of them that will experience regular involvement in a professional environment for the first time.

“The fact that once again a number of the players from last year’s group have gone on to sign professional contracts here in Scotland shows there is a reward for continued hard work.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing these 30 players in the FOSROC Super Series Championship later this summer, and with so many of them eligible for Scotland U20 they have another platform to kick on and test themselves at a high level.”

FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Players for 2023/2024 season

Edinburgh Rugby

Robbie Deans (Watsonians)**
Harri Morris (Southern Knights)**
Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Boroughmuir Bears)*
Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Boroughmuir RFC)*
Euan McVie (Heriot’s Rugby)*
Tom Currie (Merchiston Castle School)*
Liam McConnell (Boroughmuir Bears)**
Freddie Douglas (Stewart’s Melville College)*
Ollie Duncan (Edinburgh Academicals)*
Finlay Burgess (Stirling Wolves)*
Hector Patterson (Hawick RFC)*
Isaac Coates (Merchiston Castle School)*
Jack Hocking (Ipswich Grammar)*
Finn Douglas (Southern Knights)**
Jack Brown (Watsonians)*

Glasgow Warriors

Tom Banatvala (Watsonians)**
Callum Norrie (Stirling Wolves)**
Callum Smyth (Selkirk RFC)*
Ryan Burke (Glasgow Hawks)*
Harris McLeod (Stirling Wolves)**
Ruaraidh Hart (Stirling Wolves)*
Jonny Morris (Watsonians)*
Matthew Urwin (West of Scotland RFC)*
Ben Salmon (Stirling Wolves)**
Johnny Ventisei (GHA RFC)*
Kerr Yule (Ayrshire Bulls)*
Amena Caqusau (GHA RFC)*
Logan Jarvie (Stirling Wolves)**
Kerr Johnston (Boroughmuir Bears)*
Fergus Watson (Biggar RFC)*

** Retained FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Player from 2022/2023
*New FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Player