We are now just a few weeks away from the competitions concluding and teams lifting silverware. Here we bring a brief recap of some of the action and look ahead to the finals.

Each region’s competition format has been slightly different.

For the Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup, teams have been competing in pools stages, with the winners of each pool going on to compete in quarter finals, then semi-finals ahead of our Spring finals events.

The West have competed in a mini-league format and the East have followed a round-robin format.

The competitions have been established to increase the volume of rugby activity for youth players in each region, increase participation in rugby numbers, improve the quality of game play, support player retention, increase the number of matches for players and to assist with the transition from youth rugby to senior rugby.

From the West region teams from Allan Glens RFC, Annan RFC, Ardrossan RFC, Ardrossan/Garnock, Ayr RFC, Biggar RFC, Birkmyre RFC, Cambuslang RFC, Cartha QP RFC, Cumnock/Annan, Dalziel RFC, Dumfries Saints, East Kilbride RFC, Galloway, Garnock RFC, GHA RFC, GHK RFC, Greenock Wanderers, Hamilton Rugby, Kilmarnock RFC, Lenzie Academy, Loch Lomond RFC, Lomond & Helensburgh, Marr Rugby, Moffat RFC, Newton Stewart and Wigtownshire, Oban Lorne RFC, Renfrewshire Raiders, Stewartry RFC, Strathaven RFC, Wayside Drumpellier RFC, West of Scotland FC and Whitecraigs RFC have all participated in the West Regional Youth Cup.

From the East region teams from Berwick RFC, Boroughmuir, Clifton Hall School, Currie Chieftains, Dalkeith RFC, Duns RFC, Earlston HS/ Melrose Wasps, Edinburgh BATs Rugby, Gala Red Triangle, George Watson’s College, Hawick Youth Rugby Club , Jed-Thistle Selkirk Youth, Kelso RFC, Knox / Haddington, Lasswade High School, Linlithgow Academy, Livingston RFC, Murrayfield Wanderers FC, Musselburgh Youth Rugby, North Berwick High School, North Berwick RFC, North Edinburgh Vikings, Peebles RFC, Penicuik Rugby, Preston Lodge High School, Ross High RFC, Stewart’s Melville College have participated in the East Regional Youth Cup.

From the Caledonia North and Caledonia Midlands region teams from Aberdeen Grammar, Aberdeen Wanderers, Angus Colts, Caithness, Carnoustie, Deeside, Deeside/Garioch, Dundee, Dunfermline, Ellon, Glenrothes, Highland, Howe of Fife/Bell Baxter, Kelpies/Alloa, Kirkcaldy, Lochaber, Mackie Academy, Montrose, Moray/Huntly, Orkney, Perthshire, Robert Gordon’s College, Ross Sutherland, Shetland, Stirling County and Strathmore have been taking part in the Saltire Energy Caledonia Youth Cup and inspiresport Caledonia Conference Cup.

Coaches from across the county have praised the continuation of competitive youth rugby via this Cups.

Perthshire Rugby U18s Head Coach, Les Cameron said: “With the inspiresport Conference over and done with by Christmas, it is good to have a focus for the player’s minds for the second half of the season. It is a great opportunity for our players to play against teams that they don’t play against during the regular season. This is extremely beneficial for their player development.”

Carl McWilliam from U18 Edinburgh North Vikings added: “The Cup has been a good focus for the second half of the season, especially for our players who have had limited school games. It’s important for the players to have a goal to work towards and they are very motivated to progress. We are mainly an U17s team this year, so it’s been great so far watching them step up.”

Ian Smith from Helensburgh Youth Rugby Club, who is the Head Coach for the U16 group said: “The players are seeing the benefits of playing at higher level and the challenges it is bringing, player numbers are growing because of on-field success and the desire to be part of the success. Regular fixtures are key in the player development, the players see the opportunities it brings to win competitions and play in finals.”

The first of the Finals in the Regional Youth Cups are now set to take place. They are:

West Regional Cup

The draws for the West Regional Cup Finals are as follows below. Games will be hosted locally in the region.

Saturday 25 March 2023 – 2pm KO

U18 Cup Final – Dumfries Saints v West of Scotland
U18 Plate Bowl Final – Marr v East Kilbride

Sunday 26 March 2023 – 2pm KO

U16 Cup Final – West of Scotland v Marr
U16 Plate Final – Adrossan/Cumnock v Ayr
U16 Bowl Final – Hamilton v Dumfries Saints
U16 Quaich Final – Lonond & Helensburgh v Cartha Queens Park
U16 Chairman’s Trophy Final – Kilmarnock v Newton Stewart/Wigtownshire
U15 Cup Final – Marr v West of Scotland
U15 Plate Final – Ayr/Wellington v GHA
U15 Bowl Final – Whitecraigs v Dumfries Saints
U15 Quaich Final – Strathaven v Lomond & Helensburgh
U15 Chairman’s Trophy Final – Cambuslang v Bikmyre or Cartha Queens Park

TBC (due to clash with National Youth Cup Finals)

U18 Shield Final – Lomond & Helensburgh v Ayr/Wellington
U16 Shield Final – Stewartry v GHA

East Regional Cup

For the East Regional Cup, a Finals event will be held on Sunday 2 April at Peffermill, compromising of an U18 Cup, U18 Shield, U16 Cup and U16 Plate.

Most of the semi-finals will take place this weekend to determine the finalists.

U18 Cup Final – Boroughmuir v Linlithgow or North Bewrick
U18 Shield Semi Final 1 (Round-robin) – Peebles B, Dalkeith, North Edinburgh Vikings
U18 Shield Semi Final 2 (Round-robin) – Knox/Haddington, Musselburgh, George Watsons College B
U16 Cup Semi Final 1 – Kelso RFC v Boroughmuir
U16 Cup Semi Final 2 – George Watsons College B v Linlithgow Academy
U16 Plate Final (Round-robin) – Jed-Thistle/Selkirk Youth v Ross High/Musselburgh or Hawick Youth

inspiresport Boys Caledonia Conference Cup

There are two finals still to be played in the inspiresport Boys Caledonia Conference Cup, both taking place on Sunday 26 March at Highland RFC, Inverness.

The two games had previously been scheduled for December, but were postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

U18 Cup Final: Strathmore v Perthshire
U16 Cup Final: Moray/Huntly v Perthshire

Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup

The Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup is the largest of the Regional Cup competitions in the country, and will be hosted Sunday 2 April at Sheddocksley Playing Fields.

A total of 30 teams from across the Caledonia region will congregate in Aberdeen. The sides have competed in a series of regional leagues and then Cup, Shield, and Bowl knockout rounds, culminating in 24 boys’ and 6 girls’ teams reaching Sunday’s event.

U18 Cup Final: Stirling County v Mackie Rugby
U18 Shield Final: Perthshire v Strathmore
U18 Bowl Final: Dundee Rugby v Howe of Fife/Bell Baxter or Aberdeen Wanderers
U18 Plate Final: Moray/Huntly v Ellon
U16 Cup Final: Stirling County v Howe of Fife/Bell Baxter
U16 Shield Final: Perthshire v Moray/Huntly
U16 Bowl Final: Kirkcaldy v Robert Gordons Coll
U16 Plate Final: Deeside/Garioch or Orkney v Strathmore
U15 Cup Final: Stirling County v Dunfermline
U15 Shield Final: Perthshire v Dundee Rugby
U15 Bowl Final: Strathmore v Robert Gordons Coll
U15 Plate Final: Ellon v Howe of Fife/Bell Baxter