2017–18 Scottish Rugby Academy season

The Scottish Rugby Academy provides Scotland's up and coming rugby stars a dedicated focused routeway for development into the professional game. Entry is restricted to Scottish qualified students and both male and female entrants are accepted into 4 regional academies. The 2017–18 season sees the third year of the academy.

Scottish Rugby Academy
2017 / 2018

Season overview edit

This was the third year of the Scottish Rugby Academy. 11 players were signed from the academy into full-time professional clubs from last season's Stage 3.[1]

This year sees 8 new entrants into the academy going straight into Stage 3 - being assigned to a professional club. In addition, another 9 players have been promoted to Stage 3 from Stage 2.[1]

The latest intake of players demonstrates our continued investment in the next generation, an increased input from the pro teams in their selection and our commitment to future-proof our game in Scotland.

— Stephen Gemmell, Head of Academy and Performance Programmes.[2]

A second intake of players into this year's academy at Stage 1 and 2 will be announced after July and August after the regional age-grade series ends.[1]

Regional Academies edit

The Scottish Rugby Academy runs four regional academies in Scotland:-

  • Glasgow and the West
  • Borders and East Lothian
  • Edinburgh
  • Caledonia

These geographically roughly correspond to the traditional districts of Glasgow District, South, Edinburgh District and North and Midlands.[3]

Players and stages edit

Players are selected in three stages:-

  • Stage 1 - Regionally selected and regionally supported players
  • Stage 2 - Nationally selected and regionally supported players
  • Stage 3 - Nationally selected and regionally supported players assigned to a professional team.

Stage 3 players edit

Stage 3 players are assigned to a professional team.

Nominally, for the men, Glasgow Warriors receive the Stage 3 players of Glasgow and the West and Caledonia regions, while Edinburgh Rugby receive the Stage 3 players of the Edinburgh and Borders and East Lothian regions.

The women are integrated into the Scotland women's national rugby sevens team and the Scotland women's national rugby union team.

Borders and East Lothian edit

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Fraser Renwick Hooker   Scotland
Player Position Union
Gary Munro Scrum-half   Scotland

[4]

Caledonia edit

Note: these players, originally noted as Caledonia regional academy Stage 3 players were later formally assigned to the Glasgow regional academy when the Scottish Rugby Academy completed their second academy intake of the season.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Euan McLaren Prop   Scotland
Hamilton Burr Lock   Scotland
Player Position Union
Kaleem Barreto Scrum-half   Scotland

Edinburgh edit

Duncan Ferguson, Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson and Sarah Law were added to the Edinburgh Stage 3 academy squad in the Scottish Rugby Academy's second intake in the 2017–18 season.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Ross Dunbar Prop   Scotland
Duncan Ferguson Prop   Scotland
Dan Winning Prop   Scotland
Hamish Bain Lock   Scotland
Archie Erskine Lock   Scotland
Jamie Ure Lock   Scotland
Thomas Gordon Flanker   Scotland
Luke Crosbie Flanker   Scotland
Player Position Union
Sarah Law Scrum-half   Scotland
Charlie Shiel Scrum-half   Scotland
Jason Baggott Fly-half   Scotland
Cammy Hutchison Centre   Scotland
George Taylor Centre   Scotland
Lisa Thomson Centre   Scotland
Ross McCann Wing   Scotland
Chloe Rollie Fullback   Scotland

Glasgow and the West edit

Dan York was added to the Glasgow Stage 3 academy squad in the Scottish Rugby Academy's second intake in the 2017–18 season.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Robbie Smith Hooker   Scotland
Grant Stewart Hooker   Scotland
Adam Nicol Prop   Scotland
Dan York Prop   Scotland
Bruce Flockhart Flanker   Scotland
George Stokes Flanker   Scotland
Matt Fagerson Number 8   Scotland
Jade Konkel Number 8   Scotland
Player Position Union
Josh Henderson Fly-half   Scotland
Stafford McDowell Centre   Scotland
Robbie Nairn Wing   Scotland
Sam Yawayawa Wing   Scotland

Stage 1 and 2 players edit

The inductees for the 2017–18 season are split into their regional academies.

Borders and East Lothian edit

Adam Hall was transferred to the Edinburgh regional academy in the second intake.[5]

New additions in the second intake:[5]

  • Thomas Jeffrey (Peebles)
  • Matthew Kindness (Kelso)
  • Scott King (Preston Lodge HS/RFC)
  • William Owen (Melrose)
  • Lana Skeldon (Watsonians)
  • Gemma Stoddart (Watsonians)
  • Mak Wilson (Duns)

Caledonia edit

Fergus Bradbury was on the initial list of Caledonia academy players but not on the second intake list. George Goodenough and Andrew McLean were transferred to the Edinburgh academy in the second intake. Grant Hughes was transferred to the Glasgow academy in the second intake. Cameron Henderson (Strathallan School) is added to the Caledonia list.[5]

New additions in the second intake:[5]

Edinburgh edit

Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson and Sarah Law were initially named as Stage 2 but were promoted to Stage 3 in the second intake. They are now listed with the Stage 3 players. Charlie Jupp (unattached) and James Miller (Watsonians) are added to the Edinburgh list.[5]

New additions in the second intake:[5]

  • Jack Blain (Stewart's Melville College)
  • Connor Boyle (Stewart's Melville College)
  • Jamie Dobie (Merchiston Castle School)
  • Dan Gamble (Merchiston Castle School)

Glasgow and the West edit

Dan York was initially named as Stage 2 but was promoted to Stage 3 in the second intake. He is now listed with the Stage 3 players.[5]

New additions in the second intake:[5]

  • Scott Clelland (Prestwick Academy/Ayr)
  • Paddy Dewhurst (Ayr)
  • Murray Godsman (High School of Glasgow/Glasgow Hawks)
  • Rory Jackson (Kelvinside Academy)
  • Luhann Kotze (Biggar HS/RFC)
  • Ross Thompson (Glasgow Hawks)

Graduates of this year edit

Players who have signed professional contracts with clubs:

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Latest intake of top young talent confirmed - Scottish Rugby Union". Scottish Rugby. Archived from the original on 2017-06-03. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  2. ^ "Latest intake of top young talent confirmed". Scottish Rugby. 23 May 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  3. ^ "BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy". Scottish Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  4. ^ "BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy - Borders and East Lothian". Scottish Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Scottish Rugby roster of top young talent confirmed for 17/18 season - Scottish Rugby Union". Scottish Rugby. Archived from the original on 2017-09-13. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  6. ^ "Matt Fagerson signs professional contract with Glasgow". Glasgow Warriors. Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  7. ^ "Warriors sign Grant and Beattie". Glasgow Warriors.
  8. ^ a b "Glasgow hand one-year deals to Scottish Academy duo". The Scotsman.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy roster announced - Scottish Rugby Union". Scottish Rugby. Archived from the original on 2018-07-30. Retrieved 2018-07-30.