Stirling County v Ayr in the 2008/09 under-15 final at Murrayfield

Scotland’s top young guns are just two games away from a place in the National Youth Cup final at Murrayfield (Sunday 21 February).

The quarter-final draw of the under-15 and under-16 National Youth Cup was announced today with young club players from across Scotland challenging for a place in the semi-final on Sunday 23 November.

Age groups offer in both cups offer a good geographic spread going into the latter stages though the west of Scotland can boast the most teams thanks to GHA, Ayr and West of Scotland who, commendably, have teams in both quarter-finals.

However, the accomplishment of having two teams so late in the competition will soon end for West of Scotland or Ayr as their under-15 sides go head to head at Burnbrae, while GHA’s hopes to keep a foot in both camps rest on a home tie with Howe of Fife in the under-15 cup and an away fixture against Boroughmuir in the under-16.

Ayr travel to Dundee aiming to secure a place in the under-16 semi-final, while cup holders, Musselburgh, confirmed their trip to Bridgehaugh to face Stirling County when they defeated Aberdeen Grammar at the weekend (Sunday 8 November).

Gala Red Triangle are the only Border team left in the under-16 competition and, having edged Glasgow Hawks in the previous round (12-10), will be keen to do the double over western opposition when they travel to Burnbrae to take on West of Scotland.

Elsewhere in the under-15 competition, Hillhead / Jordanhill travel to Banchory to face Deeside while Currie host Hawick Albion at Malleny Park.

Scottish Rugby’s head of community rugby, Colin Thomson, said: “It’s a fantastic to see such a geographical spread of clubs featuring in the latter stages of the National under-15 and under-18 Youth Cup.

“Scotland’s clubs commit a considerable and admirable amount of time and effort to developing youth rugby, ensuring that youth development is an integral part of the club.

“I’d like to thank them for making the Youth Cups such a vibrant competition and wish them all well as they target the final at Murrayfield.”

UNDER-15/UNDER-16 NATIONAL YOUTH CUP / BOWL DRAW (2009/10)

Under-16 National Youth Cup quarter-final

Ties to be played on Sunday 29 November
West of Scotland v Gala Red Triangle
Stirling County v Musselburgh
Boroughmuir v GHA
Dundee Eagles v Ayr

Under-15 National Youth Cup quarter-final draw 2009/2010

Ties to be played on Sunday 29 November 2009
Deeside v Hillhead / Jordanhill
West of Scotland v Ayr
GHA v Howe of Fife
Currie v Hawick Albion

Under-16 National Youth Bowl second round

Ties to be played on Sunday 29 November
Hamilton v Livingston
Currie v (North Berwick or Dalkeith/Penicuik)
(Dalziel or Dumfries) v (Cartha Queens Park or Hillhead/Jordanhill)
Orkney v Moray
Clackmannan Rugby v Ellon
Ties with date TBC
(Haddington or Kelso) or (Selkirk Youth Club or Peebles) v Hawick Albion
(Cambuslang or Carrick) v Garnock
Howe of Fife v (Kirkcaldy or Grangemouth)

Under-15 National Youth Bowl second round draw 2009/10

Ties to be played on Sunday 29 November
Glasgow Hawks v Livingston or Haddington
Edinburgh BATs v Musselburgh
North Berwick v Kelso or Linlithgow
Cumbernauld v Hamilton or Kilmarnock
Dalziel v Uddingston
Kirkcaldy v Falkirk
Moray v Dunfermline
Clackmannan Rugby v Aberdeen Grammar Rugby or Perthshire

National Midi final (under-15 and under-16) – Sunday 21 February, Murrayfield
National Youth Cup final (under-18) – Monday 26 April, Murrayfield