Applications open for new elite women’s rugby scholarship

Scottish Rugby has revealed plans for a new elite women’s scholarship, which is designed to attract established athletes with a proven track record in team sport to transfer their existing skills to Scottish Rugby’s women’s programme. The scholarship recipients will be based at the most convenient of the four BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academies: either Borders & East Lothian, Caledonia (Aberdeen), Edinburgh or Glasgow & the West.The scholarships will be awarded annually with the possibility of studying full or part-time at college or university, where additional bursaries could be available.Scottish Rugby Head of Women and Girls’ Rugby, Sheila Begbie, said: “Women’s rugby in Scotland is a dynamic and emerging sport. I’m delighted that we’re now beginning to create opportunities to help Scotland Women compete on the European and world stages in the Women’s Six Nations Championship and potentially Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017. “Our aspirations go beyond these two tournaments, which is why we are looking to move our top performers into full-time programmes and recruit female athletes, who have performed on the European or world stage, to help propel Scotland into the elite stage of women’s rugby over the next decade and beyond.”Applications are open for the Scottish Rugby Women’s Scholarship until Friday 15 July. Click here to go to the online application form.