Download the latest edition - Scottish Rugby Union

Regional Development Manager roundupHighlandsShowing the increased standard across the region, the Highlanders under-16s squad was made up of players from Orkney, Caithness, Ross Sutherland,Highland, Moray, Lochaber and Stornoway.Mark Sinclair from Orkney, Jack Floydd from Caithness, John Clark and JamesMurray both from Highland are the latest young players from the region totake part in Scottish Rugby’s Modern Apprentice programme. Over the comingseason they will not only be working towards their qualification but contributingto the development and growth of the game by delivering rugby sessions inlocal schools and running events for young players.Meanwhile a great success for girls’ rugby in the region is the selection ofHeather Davis (Grantown Grammar) in the Scotland 7s girls’ under-19 squadWarriors take on AberdeenGrammarJackson then held a q&a session,with opportunities for autographsand photos, and the trip finishedwith a practice match betweenAberdeen Grammar and Warriors,Glasgow running out comfortable53-0 winners.Aberdeen Wanderers received£25,000 in the second round ofCashback Facilities funding towardsdrainage for their pitch. The work hasnow been carried out and it’s hopedthey’ll be back on to the pitch bynext spring at the latest. Meanwhile Deeside RFC received £10,000 towardsfloodlighting at their new pitches in Banchory with work ongoing.Twenty players from the north-east were involved in the regional specialist skillsprogramme over the summer, the seven sessions including one with ChrisPaterson, Eddie Pollock and Hugh Campbell. Players were nominated throughinvolvement in regional and national programmes in season 2012/13 andsessions were delivered in Aberdeen by P1 coaches and players as well asScottish Rugby and joint-funded staff.The Highlanders under-16 Pathway team that took on their Central counterpartsfor the Sainsbury School Games in Manchester – Caitlin Harvey (CaithnessRFC) is in the extended training squad.George Byers, the Women’s and Girls’ Coaching Co-ordinator for Highlands andIslands, has been busy arranging development days where girls of all abilitiesjoin forces to receive quality coaching and play rugby. The sessions are heldmonthly between September and April (excluding December and January) – formore info contact George at girlsrugby.highlandsislands@gmail.comGrampianRyan Wilson and Duncan Weirvisiting Moray RFCGlasgow Warriors’ pre-season training included a trip to Aberdeen with RyanWilson and Duncan Weir visiting Moray RFC while Fergus Scott and Jack Steelewent along to Deeside RFC where both clubs were running summer camps. Anopen training event at Rubislaw was followed by coaching sessions, from northeastdevelopment staff and Warriors players, for over 100 local players fromP4 upwards. Al Kellock, Stuart Hogg and local boys Chris Cusiter and RuaridhThe Central Crusaders under-12 girls’ team celebrates success at the EmiratesAirline Glasgow 7s Festival of RugbyCentralA number of Central clubs took part in a sevens’ festival of rugby as part of theHSBC Sevens World Series weekend at Scotstoun at the beginning of May – andit was the newly formed Central Crusaders under-12 girls that led the way bywinning their competition on their first outing. The team was a composite fromclubs and schools across the region, playing under the banner of MonklandsGirls.Following the success of the S1/2 key national themes festivals, the Centraldevelopment team will be running the same programme next season. Moreinformation will be circulated direct to the coaches but dates for the diaryare: 8 September 2013 (tackle) Grangemouth; 6 October 2013 (0ffload)Hillfoots; 3 November 2013 (ball presentation) Alloa; and 16 February 2014(handcatch) Strathendrick.The skills development camps for under-14 and under-15 players will again runnext Easter however, to help the young players, the Central development teamunder the guidance of Gary Mercer (Regional Academy Coach) will be offeringmonthly sessions at regional hubs as a follow-up to the camps.Finally we would like to welcome Stewart Milne, the new development officerfor Falkirk & Grangemouth, who joins the team with a wealth of experienceas former Kelso development officer and, most recently, as regional academycoach for WRU in North Wales.P4.TEAMtalk...AT THE HEART OF SCOTTISH GRASSROOTS RUGBY | SEPT’13