More youngsters having a ball at Accies

A RUGBY training programme run by Edinburgh Accies has reported a 12 per cent rise in the number of youngsters attending sessions.

The club said the BATs scheme had seen nearly 3900 people take part in 2011-12, of whom 1530 were female.

The Raeburn Place-based side held 990 hours of rugby sessions and saw participation increase by 21 per cent. The rugby scheme is open to pupils from Broughton High School, Drummond Community High School, Trinity Academy and Craigroyston Community High School, along with 16 primary schools in north Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Accies is about to submit a major planning application to build a mini-stadium in Stockbridge, catering for 5000 spectators.

Frank Spratt, the club’s executive chairman said: “As well as the traditional benefits from sport such as a healthier lifestyle many of young people who take part in BATs feel that it has helped to increase their confidence and self-esteem.

“We hope that if our proposals to improve the facilities at Raeburn Place are successful that next year the number of young people taking part will have increased yet again.”