Senior Academy and pro player draft announced for 2024/25 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership

EDINBURGH , SCOTLAND - AUGUST 16: Ayr’s Blair MacPherson, Currie Chieftains’ Charlie Brett, Edinburgh Accies’ Jamie Loomes, Glasgow Hawks’ Paul Cairncross, Hawick’s Shawn Muir, Heriot's’ Ruaridh Leishman, Kelso’s Keith Melbourne, Marr’s Colin Sturgeon, Melrose’s Donald Crawford, Musselburgh’s Robert Stott, Selkirk’s Andrew McColm and Watsonian FC’s Craig Davidson during the launch of the 2024/2025 Arnold Clark Premership season at Currie Chieftains RFC, on August 16, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors have had their senior academy and professional players assigned to Premiership clubs and can release them for additional game time. Players will become available to the Premiership clubs depending on individual plans outlined by their professional club.

Edinburgh recently named 23 under-23 players as part of their new senior academy group of players with Glasgow naming 26. The expanded set-up allows for the inclusion of later developing players, up to the age of 23, and will further support the ongoing development of homegrown players.

The Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership will offer an opportunity for these players to play regularly, in addition to Glasgow and Edinburgh A games, with fixtures to be announced in due course.

Glasgow Warriors players have been allocated to west based clubs whilst Edinburgh Rugby players have been drafted to Edinburgh and Borders based clubs to create alignment between themselves and clubs within their local catchment area. All pro-academy players have been split evenly across the 12 clubs.

A differential of two pro players per Premiership team will be in operation in each game throughout the season to ensure there is a fair balance of pro players being used in games. The Premiership clubs met with Scottish Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors in June, at which time these rules were agreed.

Kenny Murray, Head of Player Transition and Scotland Under-20s head coach said: “The Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership represents a valuable opportunity for the best young players in the country to play regularly.

“Along with their Scotland age grade matches and A game fixtures, our players will greatly benefit from competing within the Premiership this season.

“In order for our academy players to continually improve, they need to play regularly, and we aim to organise more fixtures outwith the Premiership fixture list to further increase their game time and enhance their development.”

To view the full draft, click HERE.