Open Competition programmes named

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 04: Match action between Stewart’s Melville College (red with black) and Merchiston Castle School during the 2024 Boys' Schools Cup Finals at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on December 04, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

The new pilot sees eight Under-16 and Under-18 boys rugby programmes named for the new top-flight schools and clubs combined league, the Open Competition.

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

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 will run for seven weeks between September and December, allowing for youth and school cup competitions to run in parallel.

Alongside the Open Competition, Scottish Rugby is also opening new Youth Development funding for clubs from its Growth and Participation Fund.

The new six-figure funding stream is open for every club to apply to, if they meet the criteria of the fund. The fund is open for boys and girls development.

Funding of up to £14,000 may be granted to enhance club programmes (at U16 and U18 age groups specifically), with the goal of growing participation and nurturing future professional and international players.

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Rugby Development, Gav Scott, said the strength of the youth competitions next season isn’t just the programmes in the Open Competition, but what sits underneath too.

“We’ve had a robust process in place to select these programmes, and are confident we have picked the top eight U16/U18 rugby programmes in the country. This included in-person visits to each programme registering interest in the Open Competition.

“We are excited to have this new layer of competition announced and are grateful to the club and school volunteers and staff for engaging in the process, who invest their time to create excellent youth programmes at so many clubs and schools.

“We’re equally excited to have a balanced and competitive structure sitting underneath this top layer, where meaningful matches will be played also.”

Scottish Rugby will review the Open Competition regularly, and aspires to have more clubs and schools joining in future, including broadening the geographical split of participating rugby programmes.

“We recognise there is not an even split in terms of representation from each of our regions. We aspire to get there, and we will strategically work with and invest in clubs and schools programmes who want to get to that level of competition,” Mr Scott said.

The successful programmes to make up the Open Competition pilot are:

Schools:

• Dollar Academy
• George Watson’s College
• Merchiston Castle School
• Strathallan School, and
• Stewart’s Melville College.

Clubs:

• Ayr RFC
• Boroughmuir Rugby, and
• Stirling County RFC.