Senior academy and pro player draft announced for 2024/25 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership

Edinburgh Rugby’s senior academy and professional players have been assigned to Premiership clubs and can release them for additional game time.

Players will become available to the Premiership clubs depending on individual plans outlined by their professional club.

Edinburgh Rugby recently named 23 under-23 players as part of their new expanded pro-academy group. The expanded set-up allows for the inclusion of later developing players, up to the age of 23, and will further support the ongoing development of homegrown players.

The Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership will offer an opportunity for these players to play regularly, in addition to Edinburgh A games, with fixtures to be announced a later date.

Edinburgh Rugby players have been drafted to Edinburgh and Borders based clubs to create alignment between themselves and clubs within their local catchment area. All pro-academy players have been split evenly across the 12 clubs.

A differential of two pro players per Premiership team will be in operation in each game throughout the season to ensure there is a fair balance of pro players being used in games.

The Premiership clubs met with Scottish Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors in June, at which time these rules were agreed.

Kenny Murray, Head of Player Transition and Scotland Under-20s head coach said: “The Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership represents a valuable opportunity for the best young players in the country to play regularly.

“Along with their Scotland age grade matches and A game fixtures, our players will greatly benefit from competing within the Premiership this season.

“In order for our academy players to continually improve, they need to play regularly, and we aim to organise more fixtures outwith the Premiership fixture list to further increase their game time and enhance their development.”

To view the full draft, click HERE.