CLUB & SCHOOL

Edinburgh Accies is a rugby club that is open and welcoming to all. We are very proud of our history as the oldest rugby club in Scotland and were originally founded in 1857 as a former pupils club for Edinburgh Academy. We continue to have a close relationship with Edinburgh Academy but our senior club has been 'open' since 1973 and our youth section has always been open to players and families from any school or background.

Our general vision for Accies youth rugby programme is to offer players (and families) the opportunity to be part of a close knit, diverse and supportive community and we are very proud that so many players and families join and stay with Accies - there is something for everyone in rugby and everyone contributes to the fun and welcoming environment we have at the club!

Local Schools & Scottish Rugby

Flora Stevenson Primary, Stockbridge Primary, Broughton High School, Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy are all within walking distance of our home at Raeburn Place and we welcome players from over 15 other schools across Edinburgh (and beyond!).

We cultivate close relationships with our local primary and secondary schools and we work closely with Scottish Rugby to support player participation in the region. We work in partnership with Raeburn Place Foundation on a number of initiatives to support the development of kids in the community away from our normal club activity.

Many of our partner schools also run rugby teams with formal competitions run by Scottish Rugby commencing in secondary school. This is great for rugby and our players but can sometimes present a challenge as players move up from Minis into Midis depending on the competitions their schools participate in and the player welfare policies for age-and-stage. We work closely with families, schools and Scottish Rugby to ensure our programme compliments local school rugby and our players have the opportunity to learn and enjoy rugby.

Why Club Rugby?

Club rugby is a different environment allowing players and families to maintain and build connections from minis all the way through to adult rugby regardless of background, means or catchment. We take great pride in the club environment we cultivate from P1 through to adult rugby and the additional opportunities and life-long experiences players and families gain from playing club rugby with Edinburgh Accies.

State Schools of Rugby

Scottish Rugby funds many ‘Schools of Rugby’ programmes in state schools across Scotland which aim to increase player participation in state schools and deliver curricular rugby sessions. Some of these programmes are delivered by different clubs or community organisations in partnership with Scottish Rugby but there is no obligation for pupils who benefit from these programmes in school to play for these programmes or join the clubs who deliver them. Pupils are free and encouraged to play for whichever club they wish and should not be excluded from access to these sessions based on their club choice.

Edinburgh Accies Youth build our programme to compliment Scottish Rugby Schools of Rugby so youth players/pupils can benefit from the best of both and allow state school players to accelerate their development.

If you have any questions about how your child’s school rugby programme may affect their club rugby or anything else about our work with schools and the community then please just let us know via youth@edinburghaccies.com.