Nearly 70 schools and youth competitions again underway

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 15: Currie Chieftans players at full time during the National Youth Cup Finals at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on December 15, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

Some 69 competitions, involving 129 clubs and schools fielding a combined 558 teams, will take place in the 2025/26 season, with 1,726 fixtures scheduled to take place. 

The Boys National Youth Leagues (Divisions 1 and 2) got underway last weekend, containing mirrored fixtures at U18 & U16 level. 

The Boys’ U18 & U16 Caledonia Youth Leagues also got underway last weekend and the with the U13-U15 fixtures, starting at the end of the month. 

This weekend sees the start of the National U18 and U16 Girls Leagues, while the U16 Regional Leagues will start over the following two weekends. 

The Boys’ West Youth Leagues and gameplay programmes will also begin this weekend. 

The Boys’ Open Competition will get underway next weekend for eight clubs and schools. 

The purpose of the Open Competition is to create meaningful fixtures for the best school and club programmes in the country. It was born from a 2024 Scottish Rugby Under-18 pathway review recommendation. 

Five schools (Dollar Academy, George Watson’s College, Merchiston Castle School, Strathallan School and Stewart’s Melville College) and three clubs (Ayr RFC, Boroughmuir Rugby and Stirling County RFC) will compete in the inaugural competition. 

It aligns with one of the emerging Rugby Development strategy aims – to strengthen links between performance and club rugby. This will be supported by strengthening the top end of boys schools and youth competitions next season. 

The Open Competition season contains seven rounds of fixtures between September and December, allowing for youth and school cup competitions to run in parallel. 

The West and Caledonia/East Boys’ Regional Schools Conferences will also begin next weekend (Saturday 30 August). 

Then on the weekend of 6 September, the Boys’ National Schools Conferences, Boys East Youth Conference, Leagues and gameplay programmes and Boys’ Borders Town Conference and Borders Semi Junior League all get underway. 

For a full rundown of all inspiresport schools & youth fixtures this season, click here.