Scottish Student Rugby returns with a first Men’s National Squad fixture since 2019 later this month, against Newcastle Red Bulls Students.

Bringing together some of the best student players in Scotland, the programme provides an opportunity for players to be challenged and develop whilst experience a high-performance environment.

The fixture, taking place on Wednesday 29th April at Kingston Park, kicks off at 18:30 with tickets available for just £5 (free for u18s) here.

The return of a National Squad programme has been led by volunteers from across the student game in Scotland who have been keen to provide an opportunity that complements the existing performance pathway, giving players sitting just outside traditional systems a chance to be seen, gain exposure and push themselves.

With this year’s fixture acting as a pilot, it is hoped that an expanded programme can be introduced in the future, including the reintroduction of a Women’s National Squad. Programmes like this are reliant on committed volunteers and any individuals who would like to support a possible squad in the fixture are encouraged to contact SSS Rugby Lead Ruairidh Campbell.

The squad to travel to Newcastle will be led by University of St. Andrews Director of Rugby David Morris, who said:

“I am incredibly passionate about University and College rugby and the student athlete experience. The return of the Scottish Student Rugby programme is very important in showcasing the talent within our system. It is a representative programme and it matters that everyone involved reflects their journey and community with pride.”

David Morris has a wealth of experience in student rugby having previously been Director of Rugby at Loughborough University, coaching the side to a BUCS Championship, victory over England U20s, and progression into National League 1.

He will be supported by Bob McKillop (University of Stirling) and Dave Hampton (Heriot-Watt University) who each bring strong knowledge of the Scottish pathway and player development environments.

Bob McKillop, who coached the Scotland Club XV alongside head coach roles at the University of Stirling and Heriot’s this season, commented:

“There’s a huge amount of potential in the student game. Bringing this programme back gives players a chance to connect into something and push themselves in a different environment.”

Dave Hampton added:

“The student game is full of talent and ambition. This programme is a great way to give players a real insight into high-performance rugby and help them prepare for the next step in their development.”

Coordinating the programme’s revival is Lewis Skinner (University of Glasgow), who highlighted the volunteer effort behind it:

“I’m hopeful this programme can grow into something that complements the performance pathway and gives players a real opportunity to develop. Every single person involved is volunteering their time because they believe in the student game, and I want to thank everyone who has helped make this happen. We are also grateful to Newcastle Red Bulls for their support with this fixture.”

There is strong evidence that the student game can produce great players with over 200 athletes progressing from BUCS leagues into professional pathways in the last decade. This programme intends to provide a structured step for the next generation, providing opportunities for players, coaches and support staff to gain experience in a high-performance environment.

Over 70 players were nominated by coaches and captains from across Scotland’s universities and colleges. A trial squad will convene for the first time next week before a final squad is announced in the build-up to the game.

Their opposition, Newcastle Red Bulls Students, will be made up of players from the Universities of Durham, Newcastle and Northumbria. As some of the top rugby-performing universities in England, the team will provide quality opposition for our side.

The squad will be one of a number to play under the Scottish Student Sport (SSS) name this season. Ruairidh Campbell, SSS Rugby Lead said:

“It’s exciting to see our Rugby National Squad take shape. This year we will have National Squad activity across six sports and the return of rugby to the fold is a welcome addition.

We are indebted to our volunteers who have spearheaded this initiative, and our members for supporting the activity. We hope a successful pilot this month will pave the way for a sustainable programme moving forward, providing opportunities for students in Scotland.”

The 2026 Scottish Student Sport Conference, powered by Technogym, will take place on 10th – 11th June at the University of St. Andrews.

Always a highlight of the SSS calendar, the conference brings together our community to network, share best practice, and celebrate the success of student sport.

On the Wednesday evening we’ll all come together for the ever-popular SSS Awards Night. More information about categories and nominations will be released to institutions in due course.

After a successful early bird  window, standard tickets are now available on the link below.

Tickets are available here:

Conference 2026 Tickets

Pricing

SSS Members

• All In! (x2 Day Conference, Awards & Accommodation) £320
• Full x2 Day Conference & Accommodation £245
• Full x2 Day Conference & Awards £230
• Full x2 Day Conference £155
• Conference Day 1 £80
• Conference Day 2 £80
• SSS Awards £80

Non-Members & SGBs

• All In! (x2 Day Conference, Awards & Accommodation) £350
• Full x2 Day Conference & Accommodation £265
• Full x2 Day Conference & Awards £260
• Full x2 Day Conference £175
• Conference Day 1 £90
• Conference Day 2 £90
• SSS Awards £90

External Attendees can contact SSS Business Manager Julia Stenhouse-Walton.

Accommodation

This year, accommodation will be available through our hosts the University of St. Andrews for a reduced event rate of £90 per person. You can book any rooms through the Conference sign-up form or by contacting Julia Stenhouse-Walton.

Rooms will be double beds with en-suite and includes a buffet breakfast.

Agenda

June 10th – Connecting the Wider Scottish Sport Sector
Day 1 sets the tone with a focus on the wider sport sector, bringing together members, SGBs, partners, and external organisations. It’s a chance to spark new connections, share fresh thinking, and explore how we can collectively drive sport forward across colleges and universities.

A series of forward thinking keynotes and engaging breakout sessions will spotlight standout practice from both further and higher education, offering real-world insight, ideas you can take away, and inspiration to elevate your own work. Expect energy, collaboration, and plenty of opportunities to learn from across the sector.

June 11th – Member Collaboration In Action
Day 2 shifts the spotlight to our member institutions, creating space for meaningful interaction, shared learning, open conversation and solution focused thinking. The focus is firmly on the power of connecting with one another.

Built around key themes and discussion topics, the day is designed to be highly interactive and participant-led. This is less about presentations and more about conversations, giving you the opportunity to share experiences, tackle challenges together, and shape ideas that move the network forward.

We’ll be releasing the full agenda in early May.

Awards

The prestigious Scottish Student Sport Awards Dinner will take place on the evening of Wednesday 10th June where we’ll celebrate the students, staff, and volunteers that have made the season so successful.

This year we’re delighted to be hosting our Awards at the iconic Hotel du Vin in St. Andrews and we hope you will join us.

Tickets include a welcome drink, wine, and a three course dinner and can be purchased either separately, or in our discounted Conference package.

BUCS Scottish Conference Finals are here! On Wednesday 11th March, over 500 students will descend on the University of St. Andrews seeking glory.

21 finals will take place over the day with 42 teams vying to become either Conference Cup or Conference Trophy Champions in 2026.

Participating in the day? Access the full pre-event info here.

Looking for where to park or find your pitch? Click here for the Venue Map.

We have merch! Our brilliant partners BE Uniforms will be on site (located beside registration) and will be selling our exclusive Scottish Conference Finals 2026 tee shirt.

Stay up to date on the day! Follow us on Instagram for live updates, and for links to our photo albums.

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and Scottish Target Shooting (STS) are thrilled to have signed a new Partnership Agreement, running through to 2027.

The Agreement outlines areas for collaboration between both organisations with a focus on club recruitment, talent support, and integrating students in the wider STS community.

The Scottish Student Rifle Sports Group will also continue to be supported with a strong core of volunteers currently in place.

Already this season clubs have competed in a number of events across Scotland, including the STS Winter Grand Prix Series and Postal Competition.

This Saturday and Sunday (7th – 8th February), students will come together in St. Andrews for the third SSS Grand Prix weekend of the season.

The Grand Prix will be the final SSS event before the Scottish Student Rifle Outdoor Championships, taking place on Saturday 28th March in Aberdeen.

Julia Stenhouse-Walton, Rifle Lead at SSS, commented:

“We are delighted to sign this agreement with STS through to 2027.

“This partnership reaffirms our commitment to support student rifle in Scotland, collaborating with STS to offer students the platform to grow and develop in their sport.

“We look forward to working together to increase rifle participation and development opportunities for Scottish students.

Oliver Barsby Chief Operating Officer at STS said:

“STS are delighted to continue our relationship with SSS – it underlines the importance STS has on helping young people start and stay in our sport and the role tertiary education can play on that journey.

“This plan maps out the next stage of our journey working with SSS to support the rifle and wider target shooting network within universities and colleges and thank SSS for the support they continue to show to our sport.”

British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and Scottish Student Sport (SSS) have announced a new partnership agreement running until 2030.

Built on a strong collaborative foundation, the partnership brings the two organisations closer together to maximise the benefits for Scottish institutions. The agreement provides enhanced opportunities for joint working and increased strategic value for both organisations and the institutions they support.

At the heart of the partnership is a shared mission to ensure that sport and active participation remain top table issues within the tertiary education sector. BUCS and SSS are united in their commitment to working with member institutions to ensure that all students can access the physical, mental and social benefits of sport and active participation throughout their higher education journey.

The agreement also recognises the long-standing and valued relationship between the two organisations and their predecessors.

As part of the continued collaboration, SSS will remain as the Delivery Partner for the BUCS Scottish Conference Finals, which return this year to the University of St Andrews on Wednesday 11 March.

Will Roberts, BUCS CEO, said: “This partnership marks an important step forward in how BUCS and SSS work together to support student sport in Scotland. By strengthening our collaboration and building on our long and positive history, we are creating greater clarity, opportunity and impact for our Scottish members.

“Together, we are committed to ensuring sport and active participation play a central role in the higher education experience.”

Stew Fowlie, COO, Scottish Student Sport, added: “It is with great pleasure that we are teaming up with our close colleagues at BUCS under this fresh five-year partnership.

“Within this new agreement we will be able to make the most of our collective strengths in order to provide an excellent service to all our shared Scottish members.

“All of us at SSS look forward to developing our joint work and deepening the great existing relationships we enjoy with our friends at BUCS.”

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) welcomes the Scottish Government’s announcement in Tuesday’s draft budget to uplift sports funding by £40m this year.

This week’s announcement shows that the Government has listened and clearly recognised how important sport is to public health, young people, and showcasing Scotland on a global stage.

The budget outcome follows close collaboration and consistent messaging across sportscotland, Scotland’s Governing Bodies of Sport (SGB’s) and other national partners including the Scottish Sports Association over the last year – all aimed at persuading the Government to honour its commitment to double annual funding to sport.

This academic year has been a challenging one for SSS as we have had to adapt to new ways of working following funding cuts in the summer. While this sport-wide increase in funding does not immediately solve this – and while the funding of tertiary education remains challenging – it does provide greater security for SSS as we pursue our key objectives this year which include:

• Running Scotland’s biggest multisport programme with 100+ events
• Supporting vital developments in colleges and universities, including promoting inclusive growth in sports clubs
• Advocating for the huge benefits sport and active wellbeing can bring to Scotland’s colleges and universities

Elsewhere, we are also delighted that the Government has shown its commitment by announcing plans for a Summer of Sport, which promises to be a celebration of all sports, and participation at all levels.

Welcoming the draft budget figures, SSS COO Stew Fowlie commented:

“Tuesday’s draft budget is undoubtedly good news for sport in Scotland. The fresh investment of around £40m is a result of unity of purpose and consistency of messaging across all major organisations in Scotland’s sports community and we are delighted that SSS and many of our key partners will benefit from enhanced support and the ability to pursue new opportunities.

“SSS will continue to work closely with members and partners – and most especially sportscotland – to position tertiary education well within any new developments. In so doing we trust that the enormous contribution Universities and Colleges make to young people, inclusive clubs, strong communities, accessible pathways and strong performance in Scottish sport can be enhanced yet further in the years to come.”

The Scottish Student Men’s Basketball National Squad are set to hold trials next month, open to all Scottish-based students.

After returning to action in 2025, we intend to bring together a Men’s Basketball National Squad to compete in fixtures later this year.

To support squad selection, we will be holding trials with students from across Scotland’s universities and colleges encouraged to attend.

While coaches and captains are encouraged to nominate players in the first instance, there is the ability for players to register themselves. This feature is intended for students at institutions without a formal basketball programme.

Please note all nominated students should be 1st team players.

Trial details are as follows:

When? Sunday 1st February, 14:00 – 16:00

Where? Strathclyde Sport, Glasgow

Who? Any student who is enrolled at a SSS member institution – that’s almost every Scottish university and college – who is a first team player?

How? Sign up here by 12:00 Monday 26th January

Please direct any questions to Head of Competitions Chris Purdie and Men’s Basketball Head Coach Johnathan MacLeod.

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and RYA Scotland have agreed a new two year Partnership to support the sport across Scotland’s student sailors.

Both organisations will work collaboratively towards a number of targets, primarily in the areas of recruitment, event and volunteer support.

The volunteer-led Scottish Student Sailing Sports Group will continue to be supported, and will assist with the delivery of events and development opportunities for Scottish students.

SSS and RYA Scotland share a common aspiration of making sailing accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all participants and volunteers.

The Scottish Student Sailing competitive programme returns with our second League Weekend running from January 31^st – February 1^st.

Julia Stenhouse-Walton, Sailing Lead at Scottish Student Sport, commented:

“We are delighted to sign a new partnership with RYA Scotland, strengthening our shared commitment to creating a more visible, collaborative and engaging sailing environment for students.

“This agreement will help grow participation, enhance workforce development and raise the profile of student sailing through closer collaboration on events, club development and communication.

“We look forward to working closely with RYA Scotland to deliver meaningful opportunities and impact for student sailors across Scotland.”

Commenting on the agreement, Finlo Cottier, CEO at RYA Scotland said:

“Student sailing plays a vital role in helping young people continue their passion for our sport beyond school, and provides an opportunity for many to discover sailing for the first time.

“RYA Scotland is delighted to strengthen our partnership with Scottish Student Sailing and Scottish Student Sport, working together to deliver the highest quality instruction, racing, and leisure opportunities for university students across Scotland.

“Our strategy is built around People, Places, and Communities, and the student community brings incredible diversity and opportunity to those wishing to sail in Scotland.”

Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and Scottish Archery are delighted to have signed a new Partnership Agreement, running through to 2027.

The Agreement sets out the areas the two organisations will collaborate on with specific targets set across growing participation and talent identification, alongside supporting student clubs.

The Scottish Student Archery Sports Group will also continue to be supported with a strong core of volunteers currently in place.

Students have already been active this season as the Scottish Student Archery League has already enjoyed a successful start to the season with events held at Heriot-Watt, St. Andrews and Aberdeen in November.

More league meets are scheduled for early 2026 before our indoor and outdoor championship events, being held at the Universities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh respectively.

Julia Stenhouse-Walton, Archery Lead at SSS, commented:

“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Scottish Archery, marking an exciting step forward for both organisations.

“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to growing and supporting student archery in Scotland.

“We look forward to working together to increase student participation, develop the archery workforce, and create meaningful new opportunities for student archers in the coming years.”

Commenting on the agreement, Euan Murray Development & Engagement Officer at Scottish Archery said:

‘‘I would like to thank the present Scottish Student Archery Development Group volunteers (and past ones!) for all their hard work on getting the agreement in place and over the line.

“Having this in place ensures their is collaboration between all parties, which in turn will help achieve common goals, maximise impact and enhanced outcomes for student archery in Scotland.

“I am looking forward to seeing how things progress in the future’.’