Schools' Rugby: Frustration as weather keeps teams on sidelines

Frustration is building up in the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools under-18 and under-16 competitions after another weekend of frozen pitches forced postponements in the Cup, Plate and Bowl.

The hope is that the two under-18 Cup games - Stewart's-Melville College v Dollar Academy and Edinburgh Academy v North Berwick High School - can be played on Saturday along with the four U16 quarter finals - Stewart's-Melville College v Robert Gordon's College, Edinburgh Academy v Dundee High School, George Watson's College v North Berwick High School and Hutchesons' Grammar School v Marr College.

The forecast for the end of this week is not encouraging. But with the date for the final having been put back to Saturday 5 March, there should be time for the quarters and semis to be completed, albeit that schools now have to take into account study leave and half-term holidays.

Meanwhile, there is concern being aired about the timing of the cup final just one day before the second round of the district U18 championship, now rebranded as national selection fixtures. Given that, at the very least, there will be one Edinburgh school in the final, that is bound to cause problems resulting in a possible tug of loyalties.

Moreover, the Plate and Bowl finals will be played around the time of district under-17 championship games, vital matches in the national selection process.

• Lathallan School's first sevens tournament is taking shape with Niall Lear, the teacher in charge of rugby, excited about the prospect of hosting such an event at the Angus school on 30 April. Over the last couple of years, Headmaster Richard Toley and Lear, who plays on the wing for Premier Two side Falkirk, have really increased the rugby available at the school, from the youngest pupils to the first XV.

The school is now offering a sevens scholarship and believe that the short form of the game is the best way forward to help Lathallan continue to progress.

"Sevens rugby is exciting, enjoyable and teaches the children the core skills they need to progress in the sport," said Lear. "The enthusiasm for rugby is brilliant here and because we are a small school the team spirit the boys manage to build up is great to see."