Rugby: Top names to launch academy scheme

Edinburgh ACCIES will tonight launch the first academy scheme to be run under the jurisdiction of a premiership club and backed by some of the leading names in Scottish rugby.

Headed by Bob Easson, high performance manager at the Scottish Institute of Sport and a former Accies coach, the academy will offer promising players aged 14-20 high intensity individual coaching on a monthly basis.

Among those lined up in an ambassadorial role are Scotland stars Mike Blair and Dave Denton as well as Stuart Moffat (ex-Scotland) and Lewis Niven, the Edinburgh prop who came through the Raeburn Place youth structure also embracing Broughton and Trinity Accies (BATS).

Current coaches and players, headed by top team mentor Simon Cross, will also be involved and club official John Wright says: “It will be the first in Edinburgh and we are very excited about something that will take place once a month until the new season.”