Scottish Rugby's Pathway Programme is designed to ensure that all players are given the opportunity to achieve their potential. The Performance Development Manager (PDM) will ensure that the programme:

• Identifies Talented Athletes and places them on the appropriate programmes from the age of 14
• Allows Talented Athletes to play in a competitive structure

Similarly the PDM will ensure that the programme:

• Identifies, develops and supports coaches to work within the Pathway Programme
• Provides support to identified coaches developing within Scottish Rugby's Coach Education Programme

For further information on the Pathway please contact:

Mark McKenzie

Performance Development Manager (Central, Tayside & Fife)

(M) 07764 178 916

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Central Crusaders U15 & U16 Rugby Round Up

For the second year running Central Crusaders U15 and U16 completed their season undefeated. Over the course of 5 weeks the players trained intensely to get themselves prepared for their Caledonia Pathway games against North East Hurricanes, Highland and Islands Highlanders, Tayside Tigers and Fife Mavericks & Mustangs.

Pictured Below are the U15 & U16 Squads 2007 - 2008

The U15 Squad’s game against their Fife counterparts was a tight affair. Carrying a few injuries, most notably in the back row the boys were apprehensive going into the game against the much larger Fife team. However the team started with a bang and were on the front foot from the word go.

Ruiridh Cameron (playing out of position at number 8) opened the scoring, after a fine piece of work from the crusaders front five, running in from the 22m line. Matthew Lamb converting. With the Central team dominating all aspects of play, it was not long before the next score came. Cameron taking the ball at pace broke through the first line of defence to go over untouched next to the posts. Lamb again converted taking the score to 14 – 0. With the final play of the half the Central team extended their lead still further. From a quick tap by Matthew Stevenson the ball found its way to centre Ally Simpson who powered over the line with two defenders unable to stop him.  Lamb again converted to take the half time score to 21 – 0. The second half began with Fife fighting there way over for a try after a period of sustained pressure. However the game was eventually sealed late in the second half when Mathew Lamb crossed for the final try of the afternoon to end the game 28 – 7 for the Crusaders.

The U16 squad had a similar tough ending to their campaign against both Tayside & Fife.

Against Tayside and playing with the wind in the first half the Crusaders U16 squad made use of good support play to dominate the contact area. Commitment was high with many of the forwards making good yards with ball in hand and the backs making well placed clearing kicks where necessary. Both forwards and backs got in on the act of scoring with two for the forwards, Gregor McIntosh and Neil Leeson scoring particularly good tries. Winger Jamie Anderson crossed for two tries with Jamie Urqhart, who was in fine form with the boot, scoring an interception try to round things up. Central ran out eventual winners 40 – 10.

In their final game against Fife , Central put in yet another comprehensive win. Throughout an error-strewn game the Central team fronted up to put in a great team performance in defence to keep the Fifers at bay. With ball in hand the team eventually began to click and run in some satisfactory scores. With Fife playing one-dimensional rugby, mainly through their talented loose head, they scored two tries. The Central team proved to strong in the end and the tries were shared once more between forwards and backs. Credit must be given to flanker Gary Taylor, who put in an immense effort in defence. Constantly chopping down the opposition and turning over the ball. Furthermore Jamie Urqhart had another fine afternoon, scoring two tries and converting 80% of his kicks. Scorers on the day were Lewis Coutts, Neil Leeson, Robbie Hogg (2) and Jamie Urqhart (2). Final score 47 – 17 to Central.

The season went out with a bang with both U15 and U16 teams invited to the player’s dinner. Each player had a vote on who they thought had performed well over the games and merited player of the year. Coming out on top were: U15 team – Ruiridh Cameron and in the U16 team Aubrey Young.