Investment manager Bell Lawrie, due to re-brand as Brewin Dolphin next month, is to extend its sponsorship of the Scottish Schools Cup to include a girls’ competition.The new three-year deal will see the partnership with Scottish Rugby extended until 2012 and will adopt the new title ‘The Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup’.  Investment manager Bell Lawrie, due to re-brand as Brewin Dolphin next month, is to extend its sponsorship of the Scottish Schools Cup to include a girls’ competition.The new three-year deal will see the partnership with Scottish Rugby extended until 2012 and will adopt the new title ‘The Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup’.Colin Thomson, head of community rugby at Scottish Rugby said: “We are delighted with the commitment shown by Bell Lawrie to schools rugby which I believe stands as testimony to the progress that has been made by all partners involved in the growth and development of schools rugby across Scotland – all children in Scotland attend school and we are delighted that year on year more youngsters are getting the opportunity to play rugby for their schools in Bell Lawrie competitions. “We are particularly delighted to announce today that moving forward the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup sponsorship will also support the introduction of girls’ competitions demonstrating the progress that has also been made in the growth and development of girls’ rugby over the last couple of seasons.”Bell Lawrie has sponsored the Scottish Schools Cup for the past eight years, during which time the competition has witnessed unprecedented growth, with an increase from 56 teams in 2001 to 244 taking part this season. In 2004 the under-15 competition was added to run alongside the existing under-18 tournament and now around 5500 Scottish school pupils take part every year.Scotland captain, Mike Blair, a former Schools Cup player for Edinburgh Academy, said: “I think it is great news that, through Scottish Rugby’s development work and the support of private sponsors, more kids are getting the opportunity to experience the camaraderie that school rugby can bring.”Schools rugby introduces thousands of children to rugby in a fun and enjoyable way and the Schools’ Cup is the focus that drives much interest with youngsters – this is the hook that sees many continue their participation into adult life.”Scotland Women’s captain, Lynne Reid, added: “Scottish Rugby and the SWRU are moving towards integration in 2009 and the inclusion of competitions for schoolgirls within the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup sponsorship is a great example of rugby being developed and supported in an integrated fashion and confirmation that girls like rugby too! “This is fantastic news for young female rugby players across the country and the future of the women’s game as a whole.”Marc Wilkinson, Director at Bell Lawrie, said: “We have supported schools rugby for some time now and Bell Lawrie has become synonymous with schools rugby in Scotland.  We are committed to supporting grassroots rugby in Scotland for the long term and hope that the competition continues to thrive under our new name.”Integrating the gameThe Scottish Rugby Union and the Scottish Womens’ Rugby Union are committed to work towards a united governing body where all are part of a single and equitable organisation.Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools’ Cup• Entries for the 2008/2009 Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup have set another new record with 35 more teams entering Scottish Rugby’s flagship schools competition than ever before.  • The tournament has broken entry records for the past three consecutive years with the total number of competing teams soaring from 184 in 2006/2007 to 244 in 2008/2009 – a massive 33% increase.Bell Lawrie / Brewin Dolphin• Bell Lawrie is a division of Brewin Dolphin Limited (“BD”) and has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Dumfries and Elgin.• Brewin Dolphin Limited (BD) is the principal operating company of Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. BD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.• BD is the largest independent private client investment manager in the UK. The Group manages approximately£17 billion of funds for more than 130,000 clients, and of this£9.5 billion is on a discretionary basis. BD has 39 offices and is corporate adviser to 120 corporate and 100 institutional clients. Brewin Dolphin Investment Banking won the Best Research award at the AIM Awards 2008.The Group provides complete investment management for private investors, charities and pension funds and trades as:• Brewin Dolphin in England, Scotland (from 19 March 2009), Wales, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland• Stocktrade is the BD Execution-Only division www.stocktrade.co.uk• Please see Media Centre section on www.brewindolphinmedia.co.uk for details and photos of all commentators and analysts throughout the BD Group.