Lenzie Academy take place in Glasgow Warriors championship

Top rugby side Glasgow Warriors and sponsors ScottishPower have teamed up to organise the ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championship.

Lenzie pupils Drew Cruickshanks and Greta Konolova were among those who joined Glasgow Warriors stars Alex Dunbar, Adam Ashe, Rory Hughes and Glenn Bryce to launch the tournament at Scotstoun.

The championship - a fundamental part of ScottishPower’s three year sponsorship of Glasgow Warriors and its commitment to supporting grassroots opportunities in Scotland - will see 16 schools take part in qualifying rounds in early March.

The entry criteria required each school to have boys’ teams at S1 and S2, as well as a girls’ team at under-15s.

Each participating school will compete in a qualifying event at Scotstoun before the winners from each day progress to the semi-final stages, which will be played at their own schools.

The winners of the semi-finals will then lock horns at the home of the Glasgow Warriors in the final of the tournament.

The champions will win brand new rugby kits for their school, as well as the first ScottishPower Warriors Rugby Championship trophy.

Lenzie’s qualifier will take place next Wednesday, March 9, when they will be up against Grange Academy, All Saints Secondary and Hyndland Secondary.

All schools participating will have the opportunity to learn from the Glasgow Warriors players, within a professional environment at Scotstoun.

Glasgow Warriors project officer Lindsey Smith said: “This is a great opportunity for us to work closely with ScottishPower to strengthen our relationships with some of the schools within our community.

“This will help to inspire the next generation of rugby players, by providing them with the opportunity to play at the home of Glasgow Warriors and access to our professional environment and players.”

ScottishPower chief corporate officer Keith Anderson 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 committed to working with Glasgow Warriors to help promote rugby in local school communities and give our next generation of rugby stars the chance to show off their skills and enjoy playing rugby at the ground one of Europe’s best professional clubs.”

Lenzie’s under-16 side recently enjoyed a successful run in the National Plate competition, going out to Caithness in the semi-finals after a 12-12 draw, only because they were the home side.