Scottish Rugby doubles number of competitive rugby matches for school and youth players after successful launch of new Conference programme

The number of competitive rugby matches played at youth level by Scottish schools and clubs has doubled in the past month, compared to September 2014. The new Schools and Youth Conferences, developed by Scottish Rugby, have dramatically increased the number of scheduled competitive fixtures for young players in the under-13 to under-18 age groups.The Conferences established for the 2015-16 season group schools and clubs based on the development programmes they have in place, the number of teams they operate and results over recent seasons.The fixture programme, arranged by Scottish Rugby, has guaranteed blocks of ‘school v school’ or ‘club v club’ fixtures in the autumn phase of the season.The new structure comprises 11 Conferences, six for schools and four for clubs, including one town vs town conference in the Borders. In all 71 clubs and schools across Scotland are involved.After one month the new structure has increased the number of competitive schools and youth games scheduled by 56%, compared with September 2014, generating an increase in the number of competitive schools and youth games played by 107%.Keith Russell Scottish Rugby’s Director of Domestic Rugby said:This has been a good start for the new structure.  There is now a focus for schools and clubs on the importance of putting teams out and playing games at all age-levels, and this will ultimately benefit the players participating in this structure and the rugby communities they represent Schools and clubs field teams at each age-level when the fixtures are played. Each participating team contributes points to their respective school or club total, with the school or club accumulating the most points across all age groups over the conference programme winning the conference. This is a unique schools and youth structure, which meets the long-term needs of Scottish youth rugby. The new Conference leagues provide a clear framework of fixtures and as a result the success rate of matches taking place has risen from previous seasons.In September 2015 across all youth and school competitions 690 competitive games were scheduled, of which 589 (85%) were played.This compares with September 2014 when 441 competitive youth and schools games were scheduled, of which 284 (64%) were played.This evolution from the previous ad-hoc friendly matches to a fully competitive Conference structure has been a large undertaking by Scottish Rugby’s domestic rugby team, but one that is now starting to bear fruit. Former Scotland head coach Frank Hadden helped to develop the concept and has acted as a consultant working within the domestic rugby department He describes the new Conference programme as a massive step forward in enhancing both opportunities, and development, for young players. Frank Hadden said:”I have long been an advocate of more competition for players during their teenage years and it is encouraging to see this finally come to fruition across Scotland. This will undoubtedly improve the development cultures in our schools and clubs and this in turn will produce more players for the adult game, better players for the Academy process and a greater overall interest in our sport. The 11 Conferences will continue to be played in the autumn term. For more information please go to the schools and youth section of the Scottish Rugby website – http://www.scottishrugby.org/fixtures-results-schools-youth