The SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship has officially returned for its ninth year, with the first qualifying matches commencing this week at Scotstoun Stadium.

The tournament was launched on Wednesday 21 January with representatives from six schools joined by Glasgow Warriors hooker Gregor Hiddleston. This year, 20 schools from across the country will compete for the trophy, which concludes in a grand final this May. Marr College from Troon enters the competition as the defending champions, aiming to secure the title for a third consecutive year.

Established to broaden access to rugby, the championship also serves as a platform to introduce students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career paths. In a first for the event, this year's launch took place at the Dealain House training facility in Cumbernauld. Students were given a tour of the site, including demonstrations of technical skills such as pole climbing and jointing.

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Kenny Brown, Glasgow Warriors Managing Director, commented: "We're proud to once again launch the SP Energy Networks Warriors Championships and continue a partnership that delivers real impact for young people across Scotland.

"The Championships go beyond rugby, shining a spotlight on the importance of STEM education while helping to widen access to the game. By bringing sport and learning together, we hope to inspire pupils both on and off the pitch as they begin their journey in this year's competition."

Iain Divers, Head of Distribution Networks at SP Energy Networks, added: "It was great to be able to welcome the students to Dealain House and show them a small selection of work we do to keep the lights on. I hope we were able to inspire some budding future engineers."

The competition is particularly significant for developing programmes, such as the one at Irvine Royal Academy. Rory Cooper, School of Rugby Lead at the academy, noted: "This is our second shot at the Championship. As a new rugby playing school, we have introduced lots of pupils to rugby for the first time. The growth in our programmes has been massive, with SP Energy Networks being one of those drivers. The pupils are desperate to come up and play at Scotstoun again, the home of the Warriors."