The jewel in the festival’s crown, the U18 boys and U18 girls Cups were won by Robert Gordon’s College (defeating Howe of Fife 53-28) and Stirling County (defeating Caithness 36-7) respectively.

Spectators turned out in their droves to Countesswells Playing Fields at Robert Gordon’s College on Sunday to see the best rugby from the north of Scotland. The event rounded off another successful Saltire Energy Rugby Schools Week.

To reach today’s finals showdown, each side had topped their respective regional leagues, as well as Cup, Shield, and Bowl knockout rounds, culminating in 18 boys’ and six girls’ teams reaching the big dance.

This year’s event saw the Sevens format trialled for all girls’ matches – as opposed to the traditional 15-a-side.

Caledonia Area Director Rudi Urbach said staff wanted to further provide opportunities for clubs to bring standalone teams and be represented at finals day.

“In terms of further developing a different type of skill set in the girls game, we went with the sevens format to ensure that an all-girl format is something we’re really excited to bring to the girls programme this year.”

Caledonia Regional Lead Manager Chris Pacey said the finals day had been brilliant, with well over 500 players from across the Midlands and the north participating in the finals.

“We tweaked the format slightly from last year, thinking more clubs could enter a seven a side team than a full 15 a side team. So, by changing formats slightly, we worked out that would have more girls involved overall, but also more teams involved, and more coaches involved as well.

“So that was the logic behind the tweak, and it’s proven to be a success. And you can see that by the amount of smiles on faces over there, on the pitch that the girls are playing on today.”

Saltire Energy CEO Mike Loggie said he was hugely impressed with the quality of the rugby on show.

“Honestly, the match we were watching there was going right down to the wire. It was fantastic. The kids were playing fantastic rugby. Their quality of the rugby has moved on so much in the past few years. It’s amazing.

“(Sport in schools) it’s really important. We’re involved in a lot of kids sport, and it’s so important because this is the future of the sport, and the fact that’s such diverse groups of children involved in this now, it’s great for the sport, and it’s great for the kids as well.”

Look out for our Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup finals gallery coming later this week.

Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup finals results:

• Boys U15 Cup: Dundee 28 – 22 Stirling County
• Boys U15 Shield: Perthshire 43 – 19 Falkirk
• Boys U16 Cup: Deeside 31 – 27 Highland A
• Girls U16 Cup: Stirling 46 – 0 Dundee
• Girls U16 Shield: Perthshire 43 – 14 Falkirk
• Boys U16 Shield: Dunfermline 66 – 21 Mackie
• Boys U16 Plate: Strathmore 52 – 7 Highland B
• Boys U16 Bowl: Orkney 36 – 17 Kinross
• Boys U16 Quaich: Ellon 24 – 20 Huntly
• Girls U18 Cup: Stirling 36 – 7 Caithness
• Boys U18 Cup: Robert Gordons College 53 – 28 Howe of Fife
• Boys U18 Shield: Highland 32 – 29 Mackie
• Girls U18 Shield: Falkirk 25 – 24 Dunfermline
• Boys U18 Plate: Howe of Fife 36 – 21 Dunfermline
• Boys U18 Bowl: Orkney 34 – 24 Strathmore
• Boys U18 Quaich: Moray 42 – 12 Deeside