Glasgow Warriors players Richie Gray and Jon Welsh teamed up this month with their former club West of Scotland – the only club with a team left in both the under-15 and under-16 National Youth Cup semi-final – as they prepared to prove that west is best in their forthcoming cup clashes with eastern rivals.
The Warriors will host Edinburgh Rugby at Firhill in first 1872 Cup Magners League derbies on Sunday 27 December (kick-off 3.05pm) while West of the Scotland face a capital contest against last season’s beaten semi-finalists, Boroughmuir, in the under-16 competition and their under-15s will play Bowl holders Howe of Fife at Duffus Park.
Elsewhere in the under-16 Cup, Stirling County will entertain Dundee Eagles at Bridgehaugh while, in the under-15 competition, Deeside will take on Currie at the Tillybrake Playing Fields in Banchory.
The semi-final of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Cup will be drawn live on STV as part of the live coverage of the 1872 Cup derby between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby.
Stewart's Melville College, Edinburgh Academy, George Watson's College and Hutchison's Grammar School await the result in the under-15 event while Stewart's Melville, Edinburgh Academy, George Watson's College and Merchiston Castle School will contest the penultimate leg of the under-18 competition.
A losing finalist in last season’s under-18 final, Stewart's Melville under-18 captain, Michael Crawley, revealed that Scotland’s inspirational 9-8 victory over Australia has spurred him on to play his part in a Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup double and lay his finals-day demons to rest.
“I thought the Scotland game was really inspiring,” he said, “It was good to get Scotland’s crowd backing the team. It was very motivational.”
“It showed that you just can’t ever give up and if you put one hundred per cent in and push your body to its limits then you are going to get a good outcome – obviously our team can learn a lot from that."
This season, the Girls’ Cup is sponsored by Brewin Dolphin and will run at under-15 and under-18 age bands. The format has changed to a tournament structure to increase the number of games that teams will be guaranteed, ensuring teams will move through the competition and will finish competing at an appropriate level. Entries will be accepted from any affiliated school, club or composite team.
Winners of the Cup, Shield and Bowl semi-finals will participate in the final. The intention is to host the finals at Murrayfield Stadium, with the Cup finals taking place on the international pitch and the Shield and Bowl Finals happening on the back pitches.
An Edinburgh state-school select gathered at Murrayfield last month as they prepared to represent Scotland in the 2009 Suburbs Rugby World Festival in Marseille, France.
The state-school starlets got the chance to talk tactics with Scotland 7s head coach Stephen Gemmell who presented the players with playing kit for an international sevens adventure that saw them take on seven other sides including India, Madagascar, South Africa and two sides from England and France.
Fundamental to the selection process was the Scottish Widows Bank Rugby Champions scheme which rewards a nominated member of state-school staff who volunteers his or her time to take extra-curricular rugby.
The side then went on to do the country proud in the annual competition; the Scots made the final and only narrowly lost out to South Africa.
Scottish Widows Banks Rugby Champion, Clint Lanyon, reports from the tour…
Monday 23 November
Upon arrival in Paris the team headed off to train with a Parisian select side. After a general warm up and skills session the teams played four 10 minute games with Scotland winning the first two, drawing the third and losing the fourth. This proved a great warm up for the team and focussed their attention on the Urban World Cup later in the week.
Tuesday 24 November
Completing the final leg of the journey to Marseille, the team took the TGV south from Paris. Leaving Paris, the skies were grey but the sun soon appeared and stayed for the duration of the tour. Upon arrival in Marseille the team took part in a training session with their French opponents before enjoying a relaxing and well-earned swim in the Mediterranean.
Wednesday 25 November
The team was treated to an eight hour bus tour, along with the other teams of the local area, which included a trip to a local farm where they saw bulls being herded by cowboys!!
Thursday 26 November - Tournament Day 1
After an intense training session at Marseille rugby club, the host venue, the boys enjoyed a late lunch before the draw took place. The opening game was to be Scotland v England.
Before the teams took to the field, all of the countries represented – India, South Africa, Madagascar, France, England and Scotland – were introduced to French legend, Frederic Michalak.
Shortly after England and Scotland took to the field for what was to be a truly great game. Scot Butler ran in the first score of the tournament before two minutes had passed – a score which set the tone for the rest of the game. Final score, Scotland 55 - 0 England.
In their next game, the Scots faced the French. It was a much more physically demanding game with the Scots capitalising on frequent French indiscipline to win comfortably, 77 - 0
With their first two games out of the way, the team was very buoyant and sensed an ability to win the tournament. That evening the teams were all invited to a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Marseille.
Friday 27th November - Tournament Day 2
After an overcast start to the day, the clouds cleared to present brilliant sunshine.
The team faced three tough opponents: Madagascar and India (who had both shown great speed and agility in their opening games) and the mighty South Africans who all hailed from the famous Sharks Academy.
Not to be fazed by their tough opposition, the Scotland boys warmed up and took to the field against Madagascar. Sensing a tough game the lads played the ball well – opening and taking several opportunities, which saw the final score read Scotland 40 - 0 Madagascar. In a similar light they took to the field against a slightly tired Indian team and comfortably won 71 – 0, to secure their fourth consecutive clean sheet in the tournament.
As the day drew on and with fading light the team finally faced their biggest challenge, South Africa.
With neither team losing so far there was little between them. Facing a South African ‘haka’ the tension built and emotions ran high. As the whistle blew from the start the game, the tempo had been lifted and the South Africans took charge.
A handling error cost dearly as they ran in the first try. Not to be outdone, the Scots raised their game and fought back valiantly in what was the most physical game of the entire tournament.
As the Mediterranean light began to fade, however, so did Scotland's hopes of a win.
Despite running in a consolation try, the South Africans had broken the Scots’ line on four occasions to register a 28-10 victory.
The post tournament celebrations began in earnest with the barriers of oceans and continents disappearing as all teams chatted and laughed about their favourite moments and what the whole experience meant for them. To top it all, the presence of Jonah Lomu was the icing on the cake as the boys got to meet one of their rugby heroes and question him intensely. A truly awe-inspiring moment in their lives.
Saturday 28 November
An early start saw all the teams taken on a tour of the Stade Vélodrome, host to the France v All Blacks game they attended that evening.
Sunday 29 November
After a truly amazing week the squad left Marseille behind on their return trip to Paris before making the final step back to Edinburgh.
