Player Development Programmes 2023/24
Throughout the second half of the 2023/24 season a number of player development programmes will be delivered by Scottish Rugby for nominated players.
The programmes outlined below provide identified girls and boys with additional training and playing opportunities to complement their club/school activities. The programmes also act as a selection opportunity into further player development and performance programmes.
Youth Development Programmes in detail
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Girls Regional Game Series
Nominations are now open for the Girls Regional Game Series, Scottish Rugby’s entry point to the female performance pathway.
The Series provides a competitive development environment for the best young players in Scotland, regardless of geography or local environment, whilst supporting talent identification and selection for National Age Grade programmes.
This year’s Series will see three teams created at U18 level and four at U16 level.
Nominated players will be invited to a regional assessment session.
Coaches can now nominate U18 and U16 players via SCRUMS*, and are encouraged to nominate those players they believe are ready to take the next step into a heightened performance environment.
All registered coaches can make a nominations on SCRUMS by clicking the ‘nominations’ tab on the left-hand side.
Nominations open Tuesday 7 November and close Sunday 26 November.
For more information about the programme click on the link below.
Coaches are also invited to watch the webinar delivered by Robbie Lavery – Scottish Rugby’s Performance Pathway Programme Manager – on the GASPS Nomination Guide. Click HERE to watch.
*Player Eligibility applies: Girls U18 must be born between 1 Sep 2005 – 31 Aug 2007 and Girls U16 must be born between 1 Sep 2007 – 31 Aug 2009.
Last season, the Girls Regional Game Series provided a development platform for more than 200 players and supported the selection of players into the National Age Grade Programme.
Holland Bogan, now aged 18 and playing Senior rugby for Stirling County, was involved in the Series last year before then being selected for the U18 Age Grade Pathway and Scottish Futures Programme.
Speaking about her experience participating in the Regional Game Series, Holland said: “Playing in the Girls Regional Game Series was really good for gaining exposure playing with and against different girls from different clubs. It was a great experience to learn different playing styles and I believe it betters your rugby.
“After the Series I was selected for the U18 programme where I went on to captain the U18 team at the Six Nations Festival. I was also selected for the U18 7s programme and went to Rome with the Scottish Futures to play in the Tri-Nations Series.”
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Girls Player Development Hub
- For nominated U15 girls – nominations open in January 2024.
- Scheduled to take place in April and May 2024 – full details announced in January 2024.
Please note: All girls development programmes will be for players in the identified age groups using 1 September eligibility cut off (to align with international representative eligibility criteria).
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Boys Player Development Hub programme
- For nominated U15 boys (nominations open in January 2024)
- Scheduled to take place in April and May 2024 (full details announced in January 2024)
Please note: Boys PDH programme is for U15 players using 1st January eligibility cut off (to align with international representative eligibility criteria).