Scottish Rugby youth panellists announced

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 16: A Scottish Rugby Youth Panel at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, on November 16, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

Some of the young people selected represent clubs and schools such as Highland and Lockerbie, showing the breadth of the applications received.

The panel is designed to integrate youth perspectives into the decision-making processes that shape the future of rugby in Scotland.

It restarted in September 2022 following the Covid-19 pandemic and ran for a two-year term up until autumn of this year, when the panel was due to be refreshed.

The panel serves as a vital platform where the voices of young people involved in rugby are heard, ensuring that their insights contribute meaningfully to the development and growth of the sport at all levels.

Twelve young people, aged 16-24, were appointed to the panel for this term. Two representatives have been picked from each of Rugby Development’s six distinct geographic regions.

Meeting for the first time at the Famous Grouse Autumn Nations Series match between Scotland and Portugal on Saturday, panel members were unanimously excited to get started.

George Gornall, representing Hillhead Jordanhill, said he feels he was always destined to be involved in rugby, as his father and older brother both took a lot from the game.

“Rugby has taught me a lot about being confident in myself. Whether it’s playing, coaching, officiating – whatever you do in a rugby context, it’s about believing in yourself and being confident in your abilities. Taking that into whatever you do is important,” George said.

Emma Duffy, representing Dundee Rugby Club, said she was excited to learn from some of the top professional players in the game.

“I’d like to learn from Ben White, because me and him have the same position and it would be great to learn from him. I’d also like to play alongside Emma Orr because I think she’s a phenomenal player and she’s just very good technically,” Emma said.

The term for this panel will see the members actively participate in engagement events, collaborate closely with regional Scottish Rugby staff and local club development officers to engage young people in their communities and gather valuable feedback.

This collaboration ensures that local voices are heard, and that young people have a meaningful role in shaping initiatives that directly impact their regions.

The insights that they will provide will highlight both successes and challenges that the young people in their area’s face in our sport in Scotland and provide a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing the experiences of young people in rugby.

Heading up the Youth Panel is Scottish Rugby’s Lead Regional Manager for East, Gav Macrae, who said the selection choices were difficult because of the strong quality of applicants from around the country. But he was glad to have come to this decision.

“The Youth Panel are the voice of the next generation of people in our sport, so it was crucial we got these appointments right.

“We are pleased to be now in a place where we can look forward to our first few meetings in the new year, and I’m excited to see where we get to with this new group,” he said.

The 12 young people selected for the Youth Panel 2024–26 term are:

·       George Gornall (Hillhead Jordanhill RFC)
·       Imogen Spence (Lockerbie Academy/Biggar RFC)
·       Ben Hainey (Ayr RFC)
·       Tabitha Cairns (Ardrossan Academicals RFC)
·       Fergus Kinnaird (North Berwick RFC)
·       Erin Rowley (Musselburgh Grammar School/Preston Lodge RFC)
·       Cameron Round (Currie Chieftains RFC)
·       Ellen Nimmo (Boroughmuir Rugby Club)
·       Arran John Walker (Highland Rugby Club)
·       Keir Morrow (Deeside Rugby Club)
·       Emma Duffy (Perth High School/Dundee Rugby Club)
·       Duncan Crawford Carr (Bannockburn RFC)