GARNOCK Academy will today (Wednesday) take on Shawlands Academy, St Maurice’s High School and Oban High School in a bid to win a place in the semi-finals of the ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championship.

The schools will face off at Scotstoun, the home of the Glasgow Warrior in a quarter-final match where Warrriors players will attend to cheer on the schools and give teams their top tips to inspire them to glory.

Ardrossan Academy will take on Carrick Academy, Cumnock Academy and Maxwelltown High School on Wednesday, March 23.

A total of 16 school teams will compete in the tournament with an additional 12 schools from across the West of Scotland taking part throughout March alongside Garnock Academy, Ardrossan Academy, St Maurice’s High School and Oban High School. Triumphant teams from the quarter-finals will then progress to the semi-final showdown stage taking place at their own school grounds. Winners of the semi-final will then play in the final at Scotstoun on Frida, May 6, where the champions will win new rugby kits for their school, as well as the first ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championships trophy.

The ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championship has been created to provide further opportunities for pupils to take part in rugby at a grassroots level, and follows on from successful conferences run by Scottish Rugby’s School and Youth Department between August and December. The entry criteria required each School to have boys’ teams at S1 and S2, as well as a girls’ team at under-15s.

Andrew Duncan, Ardrossan Academy rugby coach said: “There is a buzz around the school at the moment as we gear up to take part in the ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championship and the pupils can’t wait to get started. The tournament gives them a chance to experience playing in a professional environment, improve their rugby skills and compete against other schools from the West of Scotland. The team is relishing the opportunity to meet their heroes from the Glasgow Warriors and get some advice to spur them on to win the ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championship trophy.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Corporate Officer at ScottishPower added:: “The ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championship is a further opportunity for schools to play and immerse themselves in a sport that is continuing to thrive in this country. We’re excited to be working in partnership to help Glasgow Warriors provide additional rugby opportunities in communities across the West of Scotland at a grassroots level."