All Set for Kick-Off as Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership Returns

The weekend marks the start of an action-packed season at the top level of the Men’s adult game, with GHA captain Dario Ewing highlighting the competitiveness of the league: “When you look across the fixture list this season there are no easy games.”

The opening weekend also kicks off a busy schedule across the domestic leagues, with 141 men’s 1st XV, 62 2nd XV and 10 3rd XV teams taking to the field, alongside 51 women’s 1st XV and four 2nd XV teams.

After securing back-to-back Premiership titles last season with a final victory over Currie in the final at Millbrae, Ayr begin their title defence at home against Watsonians. The champions will be hoping to start their campaign with another strong performance, while Watsonians, led by captain Murray Scott, will be looking to spoil Ayr’s opening-day celebrations. Speaking at the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership launch day, Scott outlined his hopes for the season: “Maintaining more consistency in performance is important to us. We were a bit up and down over the course of last season, so we’d like to set a standard and maintain that throughout the course of the season.”

Newly promoted Edinburgh Accies are returning to the Premiership and to mark their return to the top flight, the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership launch day was held at their iconic home ground, Raeburn Place, where the first international rugby match between Scotland and England was played in March 1871.

In more modern day Inverleith, Accies will be determined to make a positive start to the new campaign, having fought their way back into the Premiership, when they travel to Poynder Park to face Kelso. The hosts, captained by Dwain Patterson – last season’s leading points scorer – will be looking to build on a strong finish to the previous campaign and put a dent in Accies’ hopes of a winning return.

Elsewhere, Melrose travel to Braidholm to take on GHA. The Borderers will be aiming to begin the new campaign on a positive note under newly appointed head coach and former winger Callum Anderson. GHA, who finished sixth last season, will be looking to make home advantage count and prevent the visitors from getting off to a winning start.

At Goldenacre, Hawick face Heriot’s, with Fraser Renwick and the Borders men looking to take a valuable opening-day victory. Heriot’s, meanwhile, will be hoping to begin their campaign with a strong performance on home soil and keep the likes of Andrew Mitchell, last season’s top try scorer with 16 tries, from crossing the whitewash.

The final fixture sees Currie travel to Balgray to face Glasgow Hawks. Having narrowly missed out on lifting silverware last season, Currie will be eager to put that disappointment behind them and start the new campaign with a win. Glasgow Hawks captain Ryan Flett, however, claims his club are up for the battle, saying: “We believe on our day we can cause anyone trouble.”

With ten teams competing across the Premiership this season, there will be plenty at stake as each side faces the other home and away. The top four will then progress to the playoffs, where they will battle it out to be crowned league champions. Through our partnership with NextGen Live, more games than ever before will be available to watch live on the Scottish Rugby YouTube channel this season. Coverage will bring the excitement, stories and stars of the game to supporters wherever they are.

All five fixtures take place this Saturday, with kick-offs scheduled for 3pm.

Scottish Rugby Confirms Academy Player Allocations to Premiership Clubs

Scottish Rugby has confirmed that 43 Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors senior academy players have been assigned to Premiership clubs for the upcoming season.

The arrangement will allow the players’ professional clubs to release them for additional game time with their designated Premiership side, as well as provide opportunities to feature during periods of injury rehabilitation. Their availability will be determined by individual development plans agreed with their professional club.

The draft includes 20 Glasgow Warriors academy players and 23 from Edinburgh Rugby. Warriors players have largely been allocated to clubs in the west of Scotland, while Edinburgh players have predominantly been assigned to clubs across Edinburgh and the Borders.

The regional approach is designed to strengthen links between the academy players and Premiership clubs within their local catchment areas, while providing the players with valuable competitive experience alongside their professional development.

Ayr RFC

Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors)

Cam Van Wyk (Glasgow Warriors)

Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors)

Henry Armstrong (Glasgow Warriors)

Callum Reidy (Glasgow Warriors)

Glasgow Hawks RFC

Harry Provan (Glasgow Warriors)

Max Morrison (Glasgow Warriors)

Harvey Preston (Glasgow Warriors)

Josh McKenzie (Glasgow Warriors)

Campbell Waugh (Glasgow Warriors)