Clackmannanshire Council Online

Clackmannanshire rugby players make national squad

Clackmannanshire Council's Sports Development Team is delighted that rugby development in the county has resulted in seven current Scottish youth team players hailing from Clackmannanshire. This brings the total number of national age grade players since 2005 to come from Clackmannanshire to 13.

Councillor Bobby McGill, spokesperson for Sport and Leisure, said: "This fantastic news shows the benefits we get from introducing rugby at a young age, through the primary school touch rugby programme, and taking it forward in an organised structure. The local teams and clubs all have a part to play in showing that our small county can top levels of sports success. I'd like to thank the SRU for their excellent support and all the coaches."

Scotland under 19s rugby squad, 2009

Captain Grant Gilchrist is a former pupil of Lornshill Academy and a member of Alloa RFC. He recently captained the U19s to a 55 - 13 win over Italy. Having previously represented Scotland at U18, Grant is also part of Scottish Rugby's National Academy.

Scotland under 18s rugby squad, 2009

Stuart Edwards and Glenn Bryce are both Alloa Academy students and former Alloa RFC members. Sean Kennedy, a student at Lornshill Academy, is also a former Alloa RFC member. Courtney Morrison and Callum Wishart both attend Dollar Academy. Sean, Glenn, Courtney and Callum also represented Scotland at U17 in 2008.

The U18s will play in the U18 Five Nations tournament in Italy from 12 -16 April 2009. The squad have three warm up games beforehand:

• England U18 at Kingston Park, Newcastle (22 March, 2pm)
• The Boys Club of Wales at Bridgehaugh, Stirling (29 March, 2pm)
• Leicester Academy at Leicester (5 April, 12pm)

Scotland under 17s rugby squad, 2009

Jamie Urquhart is pupil at Dollar Academy.

The U17s will compete in the Millfield International Festival at Millfield School, Somerset 6 - 12 April where they will face teams from England, Belgium and Wales.

National age grade players since 2005

• Stuart McGee (former Alva Academy and former Hillfoots RFC) U18a, U19, U20
• Cameron Ferguson (former Dollar Academy) U18, U19, U20
• Kevin Bryce (former Alloa Acadmey and Alloa RFC) U18, U19, U20
• Ollie Gilmartin (former Dollar Academy) U18
• Will Allman (former Dollar Academy) U18a
• Andrew Simpson (former Alva Academy and former Hillfoots RFC) U17
• Grant Gilchrist (former Lornshill Acadmey and former Alloa RFC) U18, U19
• Glenn Bryce (former Alloa Academy and former Alloa RFC) U17, U18
• Sean Kennedy (Lornshill Academy and former Alloa RFC) U17, U18
• Stuart Edwards (Alloa Academy and former Alloa RFC) U18
• Courtney Morrison (Dollar Academy) U17, U18
• Callum Wishart (Dollar Academy) U17, U18
• Jamie Urquhart (Dollar Academy) U17

Girls rugby in Clackmannanshire

There is a growing interest and participation in girls rugby in Clackmannanshire. Ashley Ireland coaches the local team who consist of pupils from all three secondary schools. The team got the chance to be the ball girls at the recent womens' international Scotland v Ireland at Meggetland, Edinburgh. They meet and train on Thursdays, 4 to 5pm at Tulligarth: telephone 01259 222350 for more details.