YOUTH RUGBY FLOURISHES IN BLAIRGOWRIE

In 1991 a group of enthusiastic parents met in the Rosemount Golf Hotel and the Blairgowrie Youth Rugby Club was formed attracting over forty young players at Mini and Midi level.
The youth section has had a number of successes over the years including hosting the Royal National Mod Mini Rugby tournament at Blairgowrie in 1996 and winning the Gordon Petrie trophy at Crieff in 1997.
Blairgowrie under 18's have also had success winning the prestigious Algo 10'Ss trophy in 2002 and 2003. In 2003 they scored two hundred and forty-four points during the whole tournament, a record that will be difficult to beat. In April 2003 Blairgowrie under 18's won two 7's tournaments and became the first state school since 1975 to win the Watson's Shield in Edinburgh. (see photograph)

Currently Blairgowrie have over 35 players in their Mini Rugby Section with teams at P4/5 and P6/7. They also have an under 14 team who play in the Tayside Ptarmigan School League and are currently in mid table. They also have a large under 16's squad who currently play twice a week in two leagues and are currently sitting top of both the Tayside Under 16's Division 2 League and the Tayside Ptarmigan Schools League and are looking forward to competing in the under 16's Caledonia Cup which kicks off early next year. (see photograph)

Blairgowrie also managed to field an Under 18's team in the Tayside Cup earlier this season but despite losing to near neighbours Crieff are looking forward to competing in the Schools 7's tournament next March.

A number of young local players have also gone on to play for other clubs at Premier League and National League level and have also represented the club at Regional and National levels namely the Lamont brothers (Sean and Rory), and the Coupar brothers (Mathew and Patrick) and more recently David Rattray with all three of them currently playing for Edinburgh Accies in Premier Division 1.

With over 80 players currently playing youth rugby at Blairgowrie the future looks rosy for this Midlands Club and much of the credit must go to a band of committed parents who coach these youngsters every weekend led by Senior 1st team players Cally Gordon and Jackie Cockburn.