Earlston and Kelso High Schools have been given a coaching master class by Edinburgh Rugby head coach Rob Moffat, as a reward for reaching the Gold Level of Scottish Rugby's Rugby Champions programme.
Run in partnership with Scottish Widows Bank, the initiative aims to increase the number and amount of rugby played in state secondary schools while rewarding the dedicated school staff who give up their spare time to take extra-curricular rugby.
The programme operates by rewarding the school's registered rugby champion with personal coaching kit, and provides the school with specialist rugby equipment for coaching and training - additional equipment is then provided as rugby develops at the school in accordance with bronze, silver and gold levels of participation.
Recently crowned Brewin Dolphin under-15 Bowl champions, Earlston, and fellow Borders school, Kelso, have become one of the few gold level schools in the country and, through the hard work of School Rugby Champion Scott Renwick, PE teacher at the school, and the support of other staff and parent volunteers.
Renwick, said: "We found out before Easter that we had the option of equipment or match tickets or a coaching session so we went for the coaching but we had no idea we'd be lucky enough to get Rob Moffat.
"We kept it quiet from the players; they were busy finishing games. We just told them about it last week and they were delighted; a lot of them know Rob from his work at Melrose [where he was previously head coach] so they were delighted it was a name and a face they all knew.
"It's good that the school gets recognised with the packages and the equipment and getting Rob down like this. Schools are tight for money so getting equipment, extra balls or whatever help you can is great."
A former PE teacher at Earlston High School and Galashiels Academy, Rob Moffat added: "I really enjoyed it this afternoon. Rugby is a fantastic game, it's a game for everyone, big guys, wee guys - they can get a lot of fun out of the game.
"I was a teacher for a long time and I do miss the kids. I taught for eighteen years - in fact, one of the parents here coaching, I taught him and now his kid is here being coached this afternoon [Dougie and Ewan Runciman].
It's really funny coming back here - I taught at the school here [Earlston] for a year, about fourteen years ago - and this is the field where I taught kids rugby - I taught Mark Robertson to play here."
"The support from Scottish Widows Bank through Rugby Champions has helped raise the profile of rugby in schools across Scotland and provides recognition for all the effort that has gone into growing the game locally. The additional kit and coaching master-classes are of significant value to schools.
"Continuous improvement is so important in youth rugby and hopefully the master class will have given the players an insight into what work is needed to become better players and will ultimately allow them to become a better team."
Over 200 state schools across Scotland have signed up to the initiative since the scheme went national at the start of the 2008/09 school year - many of which had never played rugby before.
Scottish Rugby's community rugby project development manager, Neil Carrie, said: "Youth participation in rugby has increased by 24% in the last two years thanks to the hard work put in by jointly-funded club development officers, clubs and volunteers across the country and schools involved in initiatives like the Rugby Champions (supported by Scottish Widows Bank), whether at bronze, silver or gold level, make a valuable contribution to growing the game."
"This programme underlines Scottish Rugby's objectives to ensure that rugby is open and available to all, while greatly contributing towards our strategic targets of a 38% increase in young people playing rugby, and a total playing population of 38,000 by 2012."
The nationwide roll-out of rugby champions began at the start of this season
When the programme began 53% of state schools offers extra curricular rugby. After year one this increased to 69% while the programme targets 73% and 80% for years two and three
Rugby champions will progress their schools through an awards system - gold, silver and bronze which is linked to the amount of rugby on offer at their school
The successful central pilot was funded by sportscotland
Grass-roots Rugby Boosted by Bank's Super Saver
In the first partnership of its kind, Scottish Widows Bank and Scottish Rugby have launched a savings account which when opened, can directly support the growth of grass-roots rugby across Scotland.
Through this new commercial partnership, Scottish Widows Bank aims to support Scottish Rugby in their drive to increase the amount of rugby played in state secondary schools by making an annual donation equal to 0.4% of the total account holders balance.
This donation will help each school's Rugby Champion to buy personal coaching kits, provide specialist rugby equipment and expertise should the school reach levels of advanced participation.
A Gold Rugby School would have completed the following:
Coordinate / deliver school coaching sessions at:
S1/2, under-15, Senior Boys
Girls under-15 or under-18
Organise appropriate fixtures at:
S1/2, under-15, Senior Boys
Girls attending local/national development programmes
Participate in a National under-15 and under-18 competition
Offer rugby as part of the curriculum
Show evidence of active links to local clubs e.g. exchange of coaches, use club facilities, increase in junior club membership.
Involve senior pupils in organising and coaching rugby
Other Border schools involved in Rugby Champions:
Earlston High School, Kelso High School, Berwickshire High School, Galashiels Academy, Hawick High School, Jedburgh Grammar School, Peebles High School, Selkirk High School
