Ayr kick off title defence with trip to the Haugh

RBS Premiership champions Ayr found out they will begin their 2013/14 campaign away at Stirling County when the fixtures for the forthcoming club rugby season were released yesterday.

Kenny Murray’s men will travel to Bridgehaugh on Saturday, 24 August as they bid to defend their title. Newly-promoted Glasgow Hawks will travel east to face Edinburgh Accies, while Hawick, who gained ascension through the play-offs, welcome Aberdeen Grammar. Gala host Currie at Netherdale, while Heriot’s travel to the Greenyards to play Melrose.

The top-flight season is due to end on Saturday, 22 March, with the relegation/promotion play-off scheduled for Saturday, 5 April. The National Cup finals day is pencilled in for Saturday, 19 April.

The RBS Premier Division, National League, Championship A and B all kick off on the weekend of August 24, while the regional leagues kick off on Saturday 31 August, one week after the RBS Premier Division, National League and Championship A and B.

Scottish Rugby’s Director of Rugby Operations, Colin Thomson, said: “It’s great to see the fixture lists for the new season being released today because this will give a focus for the players and coaches as they start their pre-season activities.

“The 2013/14 season promises to be another exciting one of RBS league and knockout [Cup, Shield and Bowl] rugby at both national and regional level.

“We look forward to continuing our work with RBS to promote the club game across Scotland and highlight some of the fantastic rugby that is on display at this level.”

Fixtures for the RBS East leagues and RBS Caledonia North leagues will be published next week, due to confirmation of restructuring and completion of appeal hearings, which are still to be finalised.

To download a PDF of the 2013/14 fixtures, visit www.scottishrugby.org/clubs-schools/forms-downloads.