Wait almost over for Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership opener

Just 10 days remain until the 2024-25 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership kicks off, with the pick of the round seeing four-time champions Ayr RFC hosting the current champions, Currie Chieftains at Millbrae.

Representatives of the 12 Premiership teams spoke of their pre-season conditioning in preparation for taking to the pitch for the competition at a recent season launch day, held at Malleny Park.

An enticing challenge awaits as the conclusion of the Super Series competition this year means the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership returns to being the top level of domestic club rugby.

Currie’s Charlie Brett said the match against Ayr was set to be a blockbuster, and his side would be doing everything in their power to back up the previous season’s success.

“It’s still surreal thinking we are champions. There were a lot of ups and downs in that season where boys were stepping up into the team getting involved in the first XV.

“For us now, we’ve set a standard. There are a lot of guys coming in from Super Series or from overseas, so we’ve set the bar knowing we are champions now and we need to set that example, no matter who we play,” Charlie said.

Ayr’s Blair MacPherson and Currie Chieftains’ Charlie Brett will line up on the first weekend of the new season. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Ayr’s Blair McPherson added his club have adapted to being one side once again after the majority of the Super Series franchise players have returned to the club team.

“It was always an ambition of the club to get back to the Premiership from National 1 after the Super Series started, and the boys were fantastic in doing that last year – I think we went 15 games unbeaten, which is a record for the club.

“They really set the standard. It’s really good having that success on both sides of the squad, which is really demanded of us at Ayr. The coming together of the two sides has been great – we have great depth and it’s creating competition for places,” he said.

You can follow all the Arnold Clark Men’s and Women’s Premierships action on the Scottish Rugby website, and on the newly created.

See all the fixtures here. Head to individual club websites for information on venues.