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Prime Minister Gordon Brown today commended the increasing number of entries to the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup - and the return of rugby to his former school.
Entries for the 2008/2009 competition have set another new record with 35 more teams entering Scottish Rugby's flagship schools competition than ever before.
The tournament has broken entry records for the past three consecutive years with the total number of competing teams soaring from 184 in 2006/2007 to 244 in 2008/2009 a massive 33% increase.
The Prime Minister told the Scottish Rugby website: "It is fantastic news that more teams than ever before have signed up to the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup this year, giving more young people the opportunity to get involved in rugby.
I was especially pleased to see the return of rugby to my old school, Kirkcaldy High School and the launch of this years tournament at the school today.
What I remember most about my school days at Kirkcaldy is the sport - running, rugby, football, tennis. And I had the good fortune of playing rugby for what became a great rugby team when I was just fifteen.
I will never forget the first try I scored for the school first fifteen. I can still remember kicking that ball ahead in terrible weather and scoring the try that won the match. You never forget those moments.
The lessons I learned then about training hard and being part of a team have been good for me through the rest of my life.
I am delighted that more young people will have the chance to participate in this great sport."
Scottish Rugby aims to increase the number and amount of rugby played in state secondary schools and efforts to introduce it to the comprehensive curriculum are showing signs of success as 16 state schools are among the new entrants set to compete in the tournament for the first time.
Colin Thomson, head of community rugby, said: What were beginning to see is the results of Scottish Rugbys revised structure team work in all corners of the country to create links between schools and clubs to maximise the opportunities to play rugby.
The Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup is providing the opportunity for more children to have more opportunities to play more often and that has to be the recipe for the competition to continue to grow and generate more players for the club game in Scotland.
I also think we should acknowledge the significant role the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup is playing in developing players with potential. Alongside the John Lewis National Youth Cup and our Player Pathway programme were making strides in accelerating the progress of those players and their readiness for top level competition.
Seeing players such as Chris Fusaro, who won the Schools Cup with Bell Baxter High School in 2007, go on to represent Scotland 7s, shows that the competition is an important platform for identifying and nurturing young rugby talent. We hope that the tournaments continue to break records and provide even more enjoyment for the players.
Scotland 7s player of the year, Chris Fusaro, paid tribute to the flourishing competition: I was determined to help my school to victory in the 2007 final and the intensity that surrounds the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup encouraged me to work harder on my game and think seriously about making rugby my career.
Who knows, if youngsters involved in this seasons competition apply themselves then they could make strides towards the national 7s squad, pro team level or within a couple years play for the Scotland team like John Barclay did just three years after lifting the trophy.
Marc Wilkinson, senior divisional director at investment managers Bell Lawrie, added: With another record year for entries we are pleased to see the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup continue to thrive.
Eight years ago when our sponsorship began, 56 teams took part and to see that figure increase year on year, with 244 teams entering this season, is very encouraging for the future of Scottish rugby. The competition reaches all corners of Scotland which is great for us as a company as all of our seven offices are able to take in games in their local area.
Once again, this seasons finals of both the under-15 and under-18 tournaments will be held on the international pitch at Murrayfield on Wednesday18 March 2009.
New entrants to the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup
Aboyne Academy, Alford Academy, Alness Academy, Boness Academy and Grangemouth High School, Denny High School, Grantown Grammar School, Grove Academy, Gryffe High School, Inverkeithing High School, Johnstone High School, Kirkcaldy High School, Loudoun Academy, Nicolson Institute, Rosshall Academy, St Mungos high School (Falkirk), Stirling High School.
Bell Lawrie U18 Scottish Schools Cup dates
o 3 September 2008 Preliminary Rounds
o 10 September 2008 Round 1
o 24 September 2008 Round 2 + 17-32 seeded teams
o 22 October 2008 Round 3 + 1-16 seeded teams
o 26 November 2008 Round 4
o 17 December 2008 Round 5
o 28 January 2009 Quarter-finals
o 18 February 2009 Semi-finals
o 18 March 2009 Finals Day at Murrayfield
" Entry into the 2008/09 competition is free
" Preliminary round, rounds 1&2 are regionalised
" 2 x seeded entry points, as outlined above
" Fixtures are to take place on the dates specified (Wednesdays) unless agreed otherwise by both competing schools
Bell Lawrie U18 Scottish Schools Cup 2008 2009
* Cup Preliminary Round as at 25 August 2008 (ties to be played on or before 3 September, 2008)
Edinburgh: 14 teams, 4 matches & 6 Byes Byes
Knox Academy v Craigmount High School Deans Community High School
Forrester / St Augustines HS v Preston Lodge High School Firrhill High School
Leith Academy v Balerno HS/ Currie High School Lasswade High School
Dunbar Grammar School v Royal High School Musselburgh Grammar School
Queensferry High School
Ross High School
Borders: No preliminary Round matches
South West/ Ayrshire: 14 teams, 4 matches & 6 Byes Byes
St Josephs College (Dumfries) v Annan Academy Douglas Ewart High School
Wellington School v Arran High School Dumfries High School
Wallace Hall Academy v Belmont Academy Grange Academy
Carrick Academy v Dumfries Academy Lockerbie Academy
Loudoun Academy
Williamwood High School
Glasgow: 14 teams, 4 matches & 6 Byes Byes
St Maurices High School v Calderglen High School Balfron High School
St Columbas, Kilmacolm v Dalziel High School Cathkin High School
Kelvinside Academy v Gryffe High School Douglas / Bearsden Acads
Eastwood High School v Belmont House Hamilton College
Lenzie Academy
Tobermory (Oban HS/ Tobermory HS)
Midlands: 25 teams, 11 matches & 3 Byes Byes
Alva Academy v Kirkcaldy High School Harris Academy
Breadalbane Academy v Denny High School Kinross High School
Strathmore Schools (Webster HS / Forfar Acad) v Stirling HS Perth Academy
Lornshill Academy v Queen Victoria School
St Mungos High School v Graeme High School
Buckhaven High School v Crieff High School
Linlithgow Academy or Boness Acad / Grangemouth HS
McLaren High School v Wallace High School
Blairgowrie High School v Montrose Academy
Arbroath High School v Carnoustie High School
The Waid Academy v St Leonards School
North: 21 teams, 5 matches & 11 Byes Byes
Alford Academy v Aberdeen Grammar School Aboyne Academy
Mearns Academy v Kemnay Academy Alness Academy
Millburn Academy v Tain Royal Academy Banchory Academy
Nairn Academy v Elgin Schools Culloden Academy
Ellon Academy v Portlethen Acad / Mackie Acad Meldrum Academy
Mintlaw Academy
Nicolson Institute
Shetland Schools
The Gordon Schools
Westhill Academy
Wick High School
Bell Lawrie U18 Scottish Schools Cup 2008 2009
* Cup Round 1 Draw (ties to be played on or before 10 September 2008)
Edinburgh: 10 teams, 5 matches
Firrhill High School v Deans Comm High School
(Dunbar Grammar School or Royal High School) v Queensferry High School
(Forrester / St Augustines HS or Preston Lodge High School) v Ross High School
(Knox Academy or Craigmount High School) v Musselburgh Grammar School
Lasswade High School v (Leith Academy or Balerno HS/ Currie High School)
Borders: 4 teams, 2 matches
Hawick High School v Berwickshire High School
Kelso High School v Jedburgh Grammar School
South West / Ayrshire: 10 teams, 5 matches
Douglas Ewart High School v Dumfries High School
Grange Academy v (St Josephs College (Dumfries) or Annan Academy)
(Wellington School or Arran High School) v Lockerbie Academy
Williamwood High School v (Carrick Academy or Dumfries Academy)
(Wallace Hall Academy or Belmont Academy) v Loudoun Academy
Glasgow: 10 teams, 5 matches
Tobermory (Oban HS/ Tobermory HS) v (St Maurices High School or Calderglen High School)
(Kelvinside Academy or Gryffe High School) v (St Columbas, Kilmacolm or Dalziel High School)
(Eastwood High School or Belmont House) v Douglas / Bearsden Acads
Hamilton College v Cathkin High School
Lenzie Academy v Balfron High School
Midlands: 14 teams, 7 matches
(Breadalbane Academy or Denny High School) v (McLaren High School or Wallace High School)
(Alva Academy or Kirkcaldy High School) v Harris Academy
(Strathmore Schools or Stirling High School) v (St Mungos High School or Graeme High School)
Perth Academy v (Blairgowrie High School or Montrose Academy)
(Lornshill Academy or Queen Victoria School) v (The Waid Academy v St Leonards School)
(Linlithgow Academy or Boness Acad / Grangemouth HS) v Kinross High School
(Buckhaven High School or Crieff High School) v (Arbroath High School or Carnoustie High School)
North: 16 teams, 8 matches
Westhill Academy v The Gordon Schools
(Mearns Academy or Kemnay Academy) v Banchory Academy
Meldrum Academy v Mintlaw Academy
Nicolson Institute v (Millburn Academy or Tain Royal Academy)
Aboyne Academy v Shetland Schools
(Alford Academy or Aberdeen Grammar School) v (Ellon Academy or Portlethen Academy)
Alness Academy v Wick High School
(Nairn Academy or Elgin Schools) v Culloden Academy
Bell Lawrie U18 Scottish Schools Cup 2008 2009
Seeded Teams for Cup Round 3
(losers from Cup Round 3 2007-08)
Dollar Academy, Dunfermline High School, Fettes College, Glenalmond College, Gordonstoun, Hillhead / Jordanhill Schools, Hutchesons Grammar School, Lomond School, Madras College, Marr College, Peebles High School, Portobello High School, Selkirk High School, Strathallan School, The Glasgow Academy, Trinity Academy
Seeded Teams for Cup Round 4 (winners from Cup Round 3 2007-08)
Bell Baxter High School, Boroughmuir High School, Earlston High School, Edinburgh Academy, Galashiels Academy, George Heriots School, George Watsons College, High School of Dundee
High School of Glasgow, Loretto School, Merchiston Castle School, Morrisons Academy, North Berwick High School, Robert Gordons College, St Aloysius College, Stewarts Melville College
Bell Lawrie U15 Scottish Schools Cup 2008 2009
* Cup Preliminary Round as at 25 August 2008 (ties to be played on or before 10 September, 2008)
Edinburgh: 16 teams, 6 matches & 4 Byes Byes
Firrhill High School v Broughton High School Deans Comm High School
Balerno HS/ Currie High School v Boroughmuir High School Knox Academy
Craigmount High School v Dunbar Grammar School Lasswade High School
Leith Academy v Ross High School Queensferry High School
Musselburgh Grammar School v Loretto School
Trinity Academy v Preston Lodge High School
Borders: 6 teams, 2 matches & 2 Byes Byes
Jedburgh Grammar School v Earlston High School Galashiels Academy
Kelso High School v Berwickshire High School Peebles High School
South West / Ayrshire: 12 teams, 4 matches & 4 Byes Byes
Douglas Ewart High School v Carrick Academy Lockerbie Academy
Dumfries Academy v Belmont Academy Moffat Academy
Grange Academy v Arran High School St Josephs College (Dumfries)
Annan Academy v Dumfries High School Wallace Hall Academy
Glasgow: 23 teams, 9 matches & 5 Byes Byes
Balfron High School v Johnstone high School Biggar High School
Calderglen High School v St Columbas, Kilmacolm Lenzie Academy
Dalziel High School v Kelvinside Academy Lomond School
Douglas / Bearsden Acads v Jordanhill School Tobermory (Oban HS/ Tobermory HS)
Duncanrig Second School v Boclair Academy Uddingston Grammar School
Hamilton College v Belmont House
Gryffe High School v Rosshall Academy
Eastwood High School v The Glasgow Academy
St Maurices High School v Cathkin High School
Midlands: 30 teams, 14 matches & 2 Byes Byes
Buckhaven High School v Inverkeithing High School Morrisons Academy
Alva Academy v Denny High School Strathallan School
Blairgowrie High School v St Mungos High School
Glenalmond College v Perth Academy
Harris Academy v Kinross High School
Crieff High School v Lornshill Academy
Grove Academy v High School of Dundee
Dunfermline High School v Kirkcaldy High School
Graeme High School v Boness Acad / Grangemouth HS
Montrose Academy v Mackie Acad / Portlethen Acad
Monifieth High School v The Comm School of Auchterarder
Carnoustie High School v Arbroath High School
Bell Baxter High School v Wallace High School
St Leonards School v Strathmore Schools (Webster HS / Forfar Acad)
North: 18 teams, 6 matches & 6 Byes Byes
Westhill Academy v The Gordon Schools Aboyne Academy
Inverness Royal Academy v Nairn Academy Elgin Schools
Mintlaw Academy v Aberdeen Grammar School Gordonstoun
Grantown Grammar School v Culloden Academy Kirkwall Grammar School
Millburn Academy v Dingwall Academy Mearns Academy
Meldrum Academy v Ellon Academy Nicolson Institute
Bell Lawrie U15 Scottish Schools Cup 2008 2009
Cup Round 1 Draw
* Ties to be played on or before 24 September, 2008
Edinburgh: 10 teams, 5 matches
Queensferry High School v (Musselburgh Grammar School or Loretto School)
Lasswade High School v Knox Academy
Deans Comm High School v (Craigmount High School or Dunbar Grammar School)
(Trinity Academy or Preston Lodge High School) v (Balerno HS/ Currie High School or Boroughmuir High School)
(Firrhill High School or Broughton High School) v (Leith Academy or Ross High School)
Borders: 4 teams, 2 matches
Galashiels Academy v (Jedburgh Grammar School or Earlston High School)
(Kelso High School or Berwickshire High School) v Peebles High School
South West / Ayrshire: 8 teams, 4 matches
Moffat Academy v (Annan Academy or Dumfries High School)
Lockerbie Academy v St Josephs College (Dumfries)
(Douglas Ewart High School or Carrick Academy) v (Dumfries Academy or Belmont Academy)
(Grange Academy or Arran High School) v Wallace Hall Academy
Glasgow: 14 teams, 7 matches
Uddingston Grammar School v (Dalziel High School or Kelvinside Academy)
Lomond School v Biggar High School
(Eastwood High School or The Glasgow Academy) v Tobermory (Oban HS/ Tobermory HS)
(Hamilton College or Belmont House) v (Duncanrig Second School or Boclair Academy)
(Douglas / Bearsden Acads or Jordanhill School) v (Balfron High School or Johnstone High School)
(Gryffe High School or Rosshall Academy) v (Calderglen High School or St Columbas, Kilmacolm)
(St Maurices High School or Cathkin High School) v Lenzie Academy
Midlands: 16 teams, 8 matches
(Graeme High School or Boness Acad / Grangemouth HS) v (Crieff High School or Lornshill Academy)
(Bell Baxter High School or Wallace High School) v (Carnoustie High School or Arbroath High School)
(Glenalmond College or Perth Academy) v (Blairgowrie High School or St Mungos High School)
(Montrose Academy or Mackie Acad / Portlethen Acad) v (Alva Academy or Denny High School)
(Monifieth High School or The Comm School of Auchterarder) v (St Leonards School or Strathmore Schools)
(Grove Academy or High School of Dundee) v Morrisons Academy
(Dunfermline High School or Kirkcaldy High School) v Strathallan School
(Harris Academy or Kinross High School) v (Buckhaven High School or Inverkeithing High School)
North: 12 teams, 6 matches
(Westhill Academy or The Gordon Schools) v Kirkwall Grammar School
Mearns Academy v Aboyne Academy
(Inverness Royal Academy or Nairn Academy) v Elgin Schools
Gordonstoun v (Grantown Grammar School or Culloden Academy)
(Millburn Academy or Dingwall Academy) v Nicolson Institute
(Mintlaw Academy or Aberdeen Grammar School) v (Meldrum Academy or Ellon Academy)
Bell Lawrie U15 Scottish Schools Cup 2008 2009
* 16 Seeded Teams for Cup Round 3 (winners from Cup Round 3 2007 08)
Banchory Academy
Edinburgh Academy
George Heriots School
George Watsons College
High School of Glasgow
Highlanders (Pitlochry HS /Breadalbane Acad)
Hutchesons Grammar School
Linlithgow Academy
Madras College
Marr College (as no entry from Dunblane/ McLaren)
North Berwick High School
Robert Gordons College
Royal High School
St Aloysius College
Selkirk High School
Stewarts Melville College
Bell Lawrie, one of Scotlands leading investment managers, is the sponsor of the Scottish Schools Cup and the Under 15 Scottish Schools Cup
Since Bell Lawries sponsorship of the competition began in 2001 the number of teams taking part in the competition has risen from 56 to 244 teams with 123 teams in the U18s and 121 in the Under 15s.
During this time the competition has added an Under 15 tournament. In addition there is now a Cup, Plate and Bowl at both Under 15 and Under 18 levels.
Bell Lawrie is committed to investing in the future of Scottish schools rugby. The company is working in partnership with Scottish Rugby to foster young peoples enjoyment of the game and to encourage schools throughout Scotland to take part in competitive rugby.
As sponsors, Bell Lawrie provides funding to develop age grade rugby as well as providing schools with branded rugby balls and sportswear
This article was originally posted on 1-Sep-2008, 20:29 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 1-Sep-2008, 20:29.
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