Schools & Youth Conferences return for new term success

Scottish Rugby has today launched the 2016/17 Schools & Youth Conference programme after its induction last season saw over 10,000 players involved in 1,894 games within schools and clubs across Scotland. The 34-conference structure provided players with regular fixtures and generated a dramatic increase in match fulfillment with the aim to develop young players and retain their involvement in the game beyond their teenage years. For schools and clubs with five or more teams in place, 11 conferences were established alongside a further 23 conferences for schools and clubs with fewer than five teams playing regularly. In total, over 700 teams from across 121 state schools, 26 independent schools and 94 clubs participated in last season’s conference structure. New for this season is the addition of a Girls’ President’s Conference, involving six clubs (Ayr, Biggar, Caithness, Hillhead Jordanhill, Murrayfield Wanderers and Stirling County) who will field both under-15 and under-18 teams. Players from both age groups will compete within a whole club conference, designed to provide a sustainable structure from which to develop girls’ rugby across the country. Keith Russell, Scottish Rugby’s Director of Domestic Rugby, said: “We are aiming to replicate and expand on an already successful programme, encouraging schools and clubs to develop good rugby development cultures. The inclusion of a girls’ conference this season is a major starting point as we continue to expand girls’ rugby.This season’s conferences will continue to provide both clubs and schools with the opportunity to grow their involvement across all age levels.”Schools conference games will be played on Saturdays or during the week with club conference matches on Saturdays and the remaining age groups and girls’ fixtures on Sundays across the autumn term. Colin Thomson, Scottish Rugby’s Head of Schools & Youth, said: “Our aim going forward is to once again increase fixture fulfillment, providing young players with more games than ever before.There were some great matches played across both school and club conferences, with player numbers signaling a surge in interest, particularly in state schools.”Sheila Begbie, Head of Women and Girls’ Rugby, said: The expansion of the conferences through the new Girls’ President’s Conference will provide young girls with a regular structure from which to either get involved in rugby or continue to enhance their skills. Fixture consistency for girls at both under-15 and under-18 level will help to ensure players stay in the game into their adult years, with a youth platform for inclusion in development programmes and beyond now existing.”Former Scotland Head Coach, Frank Hadden, who liaised with the schools’ sector during the development of the new programme last season, said: “I’m delighted with the feedback from the first season. It shows that the participating schools and clubs fully understand the importance of trying to provide a genuine developmental process for young players with a team at every age level.They can also see that this is the best way to create a sustainable and vibrant rugby culture that can harness the many benefits and values the game has to offer. I’m now looking forward to watching the growth in both the numbers participating and the quality of the performances through this exciting new addition to the Scottish Rugby scene.”Scottish Rugby will continue to work with local authority and club partnerships to continue extending the reach of the game through the CashBack for Communities programme within clubs and schools. All conference structures will be underway come Saturday 10 September. For a full list of fixtures, visit: http://www.scottishrugby.org/fixtures-results-schools-youth2015/16 Conference winners: Club Conferences: President’s Conference: Stirling County RFCRed Conference: Deeside/Wanderers RFC Green Conference: Biggar RFCBrown Conference: East Kilbride RFC Borders Town v Town: Hawick RFC School Conferences:Red Conference: Merchiston Castle SchoolBlue Conference: Fettes CollegeWhite Conference: George Heriot’s School/Glasgow AcademyGreen Conference: George Watson’s College (B) Purple Conference: Trinity AcademyBlack Conference: St Columba’s School (Kilmacolm)