The captains of the four capital sides featuring in the all-Edinburgh under-18 semi-final gathered at the top of the landmark Calton Hill as they made last-minute preparations for the penultimate round and a place in the final on the international pitch at Murrayfield Stadium (Thursday 11 February, kick-off 6pm).

The only representation outside of the capital, Glasgow’s Hutchesons’ Grammar School, will host last season’s beaten finalists George Watson’s College in the under-15 semi at Auldhouse while Merchiston Castle School host last season’s under-18 runners-up, Stewart’s-Melville College, at Colinton Road.

Both of Edinburgh Academy’s under-15 and under-18 sides drew home advantage and will face Stewart’s-Melville College and George Watson’s College in back to back matches at New Field.

Scottish Rugby head of community rugby, Colin Thomson, said: “The penultimate round to any competition is always very exciting and with a place in a Murrayfield final at stake the pressure to perform is increased creating the big game atmosphere.

“In this atmosphere it’s the top players and the top teams that step up to the occasion and learn how to compete in this environment, however, win or loose, these are experiences that will benefit all who take part.”

Last season over 5000 supporters turned out at the Brewin Dolphin Scottish School’s Cup final.

Like all Scottish Rugby youth and age-grade representative fixtures, admission to the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Cup final on Thursday 11 February is free (first match kick-off 6pm).

BREWIN DOLPHIN SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ CUP SEMI-FINAL
Under-15
Edinburgh Academy v Stewart’s Melville College – New Field (kick-off 10am)
Hutchesons’ Grammar School v George Watson’s College – Auldhouse, Glasgow (kick-off 10.30am)
Under-18
Edinburgh Academy v George Watson’s College – New Field (kick-off 11am)
Merchiston Castle School v Stewart’s Melville College – Colinton Road (kick-off 2pm)

ROUTE TO THE SEMI-FINAL

Under-15
Edinburgh Academy
North Berwick HS (H), Glasgow Academy (H), Dunbar Grammar School (A)
Stewart’s Melville College
George Heriot’s (A), St Aloysius College (A), High School of Dundee (A)
Hutchesons’ Grammar School
Marr College (H), Bearsden / Douglas Academy (A), Peebles High School (H)
George Watson’s College
Robert Gordon’s College (A), Royal High School (H), Trinity academy (A)
Under-18
Merchiston Castle School
Loretto School (A), Glasgow Academy (H), St Columba’s (A)
Edinburgh Academy
Marr College (A), Fettes (A), North Berwick High School (H)
Stewart’s Melville College
George Heriot’s (H), Gordonstoun (A), Strathallan (A)
George Watson’s College
Robert Gordon’s (A), Dollar (A), Boroughmuir HS (A)

Brewin Dolphin
• The Brewin Dolphin Group manages £20 billion of funds for over 130,000 private clients and of this over £11 billion is on a discretionary basis. BD has 40 offices throughout the UK and Channel Islands and Brewin Dolphin Investment Banking is corporate adviser to over 100 small and medium size quoted companies and institutions.
• In Scotland, Brewin Dolphin has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Elgin and Dumfries.