Edinburgh College and Heriot’s Rugby have announced an enhanced partnership which aims to deliver strategically aligned rugby and education opportunities to support the club’s new Super6 status.

The agreement between the College and the club will see both parties strive to maximise the opportunities available to all involved. Heriot’s players will be offered access to top class fitness facilities, whilst the College’s students will be offered opportunities to enhance their learning through real life work experience in events management, media and marketing, sports science, and physiotherapy.

Heriot’s already value the input from Edinburgh College’s talented coaches and will soon begin pre-season training with the squad making use of Edinburgh College pitches and strength and conditioning facilities. As well as supporting the current club players, the partnership will also work to identify and attract talented young rugby players from the College and across Edinburgh.

Edinburgh College Sport and Fitness Curriculum Manager Neil MacKenzie said: “Edinburgh College is delighted to have an enhanced partnership with Heriot’s which builds on the already established strong links between the club and College. This partnership provides excellent opportunities for our students and the College, and has the potential to increase participation levels in sport and physical activity across the north of Edinburgh.”

Heriot’s Club President Colin McCallum said: “The Club is extremely excited to be working alongside Edinburgh College being able to showcase the best of education and sport in Edinburgh. We hope that our partnership will generate significant benefits for both entities.  As club rugby in Scotland enters into a new exciting phase we are confident working closely with Edinburgh College will foster success in the new era.”

“This collaboration will create fantastic opportunities for both our players and the students and signifies an important step in becoming Edinburgh’s top rugby club though our partnership with one of the country’s biggest colleges. It is our hope that through initiatives like this, we can make a real difference to the rugby opportunities offered to Edinburgh College students and see the continued growth of our squad strength as we look to the start of the new season.”