NEW leagues for rugby-playing Edinburgh state schools are poised to kick-off next season.
Twelve schools are ready to sign up for competitions at under-14, under-16 and under-18 level.
It is understood to be one of the first leagues of its kind in Scotland and Edinburgh City rugby development organiser Ruaridh Pye said the breakthrough
was partly down to the success of an inter-school seven-a-side tournament. Pye, a 26-year-old winger, who hopes shortly to make a comeback with Currie after injury, said: "I am working closely with Midlothian rugby development officer Alex Edmonstone, the Stewart's Melville pro, on this project and the idea is to split the 12 entrants into two pools after the first round of matches.
"Fixtures can be arranged by mutual agreement and it is another sign of rugby making a strong comeback in the Edinburgh state schools sector.
"In the past season, we've seen Ben Cairns emerge from Royal High to go on and win Scotland caps and the latest initiative has been helped by the creation of 'champion' teachers assisting rugby at many schools."
The sevens tournament is in its second year but now has added structure so as to provide an overall winner in addition to prizes at S1, S2, S3, under-16 and under-18 levels. Current overall champions are Boroughmuir after they clinched the remaining S3 leg of the circuit at Union Park recently. Earlier, Portobello had won the S1 and under-18 events with the S2 trophy going to Boroughmuir and Royal High triumphing at under-16.
Pye added: "A total of 20 out of 23 Edinburgh state schools took part in the sevens which kicked off on April 24."
The new league received a warm welcome from Gib McMillan who is in charge of rugby at Balerno High. He said: "Balerno will be entering teams at S1, S2, S3 and under-15 as well as the Scottish Schools' Cup. The boys are very excited about what is a great idea by the SRU."
Former Scotland cap record holder and British and Irish Lion Scott Murray, currently playing with French club Montauban, hailed the new league.
Murray, 33, whose education included a spell at Preston Lodge High, said: "I was introduced to rugby through Dundee Juniors when I lived on Tayside simply because there was no other opportunity at school level. This sounds like a great idea."
And Tynecastle High PE teacher Bruce Aitchison sees the new league as a target for season 2010-2011. "This is something to be welcomed but in our case has to be built up to by initially re-introducing rugby at S1 and S2 level," he said. "By the season after next we should have enough players for a competition that I see being welcomed by youngsters and those parents who are happiest with sport be conducted in a school environment.
The Edinburgh schools included in the sevens were: Firrhill High, Liberton High, Gracemount High, Portobello High, Boroughmuir High, Royal High, Balerno High, Trinity Academy, Craigmount High, Craigroyston Community High, Tynecastle High School, Forrester High, Queensferry High, St Thomas Aquins, James Gillespie's High, Broughton High, Currie Community High and Leith Academy.
