Boroughmuir Rugby Joins Groundbreaking National Open Competition for U16 and U18 Boys

Boroughmuir Rugby has been selected as one of the first competitors in Scottish Rugby’s new National Open Competition for under-16 and under-18 boys, beginning this August. The initiative marks a major step in aligning school and club rugby at a national level, with the goal of strengthening the player development pathway across Scotland. The competition brings together five leading school teams - Dollar Academy, George Watson’s College, Merchiston Castle School, Stewart’s Melville College, and Strathallan - alongside three clubs: Ayr, Stirling County, and Boroughmuir. Each team will play one fixture against every other side between August and November, with matches taking place either home or away.

Boroughmuir’s inclusion reflects years of work across its Academy programme, which has built a reputation for producing strong teams, committed players, and a supportive environment for player development. Director of Youth Rugby Scott Freeborn welcomed the opportunity to participate in the new competition, describing it as a natural extension of the club’s mission. “We want to play a meaningful role in the national player pathway, but also ensure we’re offering the best possible rugby environment for our young people,” he said. “This competition gives us the chance to both compete at a higher level and to support our players’ development on and off the field.”

As part of its preparations, Boroughmuir has continued to invest in the infrastructure that underpins youth performance, including upgraded gym facilities and a renewed focus on strength and conditioning. The club is also placing increasing emphasis on holistic development including support for mental skills, sports nutrition, and life skills such as financial literacy. “This is about more than winning,” Freeborn added. “We want to develop confident, resilient young people who are ready for the next steps in life, whether that’s in senior rugby or elsewhere.”

The coaching line-up reflects that ambition. Richie Lockhart will continue to lead the U18s, following three successful seasons in charge, while Performance & Academy Manager Alex Toolis has been appointed as head coach of the U16 squad. Together, they bring continuity and high-level experience to a team entering a new competitive environment. Further to this, we are excited to announce that we will also have further specialist coaching provided for the squad. This will be provided by current Glasgow Warriors players Johnny Matthews and Callum McFeat-Smith for the forwards, with senior club coach and ex Scotland International, Henry Pyrgos, supporting the backs.

While most matches are scheduled for Saturday mornings, Boroughmuir - along with other clubs and schools - is exploring the potential for Friday night fixtures to help build atmosphere and attract more supporters to games. The club’s first match is away to Stirling County on 30 August, which will be an exciting day for the club with our Senior 1s and 2s also visiting Bridgehaugh that afternoon, followed by a home tie at Meggetland against Strathallan on 6 September.

“This is a big step forward for youth rugby in Scotland, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Freeborn. “Our measure of success won’t just be results on the pitch, it will be in how our players grow as athletes and as people.” The launch of the Open Competition also reflects the hard work of coaches, volunteers, families, and sponsors who have supported Boroughmuir’s Academy over the past five years. Their commitment has laid the foundations for this next chapter which all at Boroughmuir are excited to see develop.