Player Development Programmes 2025/26

The U15 Player Development Hub (PDH) programme is an entry point to the male and female youth performance pathways.  

PDH provides identified young players with a development opportunity whilst supporting talent identification for regional and national Scotland Age Grade programmes.

This season’s PDH will be delivered across 12 boys and 6 girls hub venues, with several training sessions from December* through to April (variation of evening sessions or day training) and 2 festivals across March and April. 

*Caledonia will deliver a day training model and start in February

U15 PDH Nomination and Eligibility Information 

Player Eligibility applies: 

• Girls U15 must be born between 1 Sep 2010 – 31 Aug 2011 (1 year age group) 

• Boys U15 must be born between 1 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011 (1 year age group) 

• Coaches can nominate U15 players via SCRUMS and are encouraged to nominate those players they believe are ready to take the next step into a heightened performance environment, linked to the Blueprint GASPS framework (see below). 
• All registered coaches can make a nomination on SCRUMS by clicking the ‘nominations’ tab on the left-hand side. 

How many players can I nominate? 

• Boys U15 PDH approximately 15% of eligible players should be considered for nomination. 

• Girls U15 PDH approximately 50% of eligible players should be considered for nomination. 

• Nominations via SCRUMS are now live and can be accessed HERE. 
• Nomination deadline is Sunday 2 November 2025.

You can view an overview of the programme below:

Nominations are now open and close Sunday 2 November 2025. Nominations can be made only by coaches who are registered on SCRUMS by clicking ‘Nominate Player’ on the SCRUMS left hand menu.

Click here to access SCRUMS.

A useful guide on how to nominate a player can also be found here.

The eligibility dates align with those used by World Rugby and Rugby Europe for all representative programmes. It is important for our programme to be consistent with these, as some players will progress into age grade representative squads at a later stage.

Players will be provided with feedback at the end of the programme on their training and playing performances (on and off field). This will start with a player self-reflection for the coach to provide feedback.

Coaches will be a mixture of Scottish Rugby employees, rugby development officers and club/school coaches who have been identified as suitable for the programmes. All coaches will be qualified and PVG checked.

• All sessions which involve full contact will have a qualified physio present. The physio’s role is to deal will any injuries picked up during the session, and not to deal with pre-existing injuries. 

• All sessions which have limited / modified contact will have a first aider present. 

Safeguarding Code of Conduct

Data Processing Agreement – for Volunteers

Data Processing Agreement – for Contractors