Hutchesons’ Grammar School began their preparations for the new conference season with a triangular contest against Morrison’s Academy and Queen Victoria School, Dunblane and in the event emerged from what was essentially a training game with satisfaction.

The Auldhouse school have reorganised their rugby for this season with the appointment of Craig Sorbie to the newly created head-of-rugby post. Sorbie, who is also a subject teacher at Hutchesons’, is currently the first-team coach at GHA.

Hutchesons’ will have a much sterner test at Mayfield this Saturday when they take on Dundee High School, now being coached by their new director of rugby, Phil Godman, the former Scotland stand-off. Dundee High, meanwhile, had matches across the board against Glasgow Academy.

Hutchesons’ will want a strong performance against Dundee High ahead of their of the opening Conference campaign matches against Kelvinside Academy a week on Saturday, when Glasgow High School will face Heriot’s.

This coming Saturday there will be conference action for Carrick Academy, who face Wellington School, Lomond School who are away to Morrison’s Academy, Queen Victoria School who play St Columba’s and Jordanhill School who take on Marr College.

In youth rugby, meanwhile, Scottish Rugby’s new conference season kicked off last Saturday at Malleny Park where Stirling County under-18 emerged with a 36-31 win over Currie Colts, 13 of the visitors' points scored by full-back Logan Trotter.

“The new conference set-up is exactly what we need.” said the Stirling under-18 coach, Matt McGrandles. “We’re now playing teams on a regular basis who are either equal or a better standard than us. We need to play teams that constantly challenge us. There is simply no value in putting 50 points past weaker sides.”

Stirling and Currie are in the top-tier youth competition, the President’s Conference, points for which are calculated on the results of matches at all age grades between the two clubs. Stirling as well as winning the prestigious under-18 game were overall winners last Saturday, resulting in the Bridgehaugh club occupying top spot in the table at this early stage of the season.

Elsewhere the Brewin Dolphin Cup winners, George Watson’s College had a 47-7 win over their Edinburgh rivals, Stewart’s-Melville College, but face a stiffer test this week when they travel to Newcastle for their annual fixture with Royal Grammar School.