A UNIQUE opportunity to play at the home of the Glasgow Warriors was on offer to Ayr Academy pupils last week.

They competed in the 2018 SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship at Scotstoun this week.

The Ayr kids were joined by girls and boys from Cumnock Academy, Perth Grammar, Annan Academy and Jordanhill School as the second round of competition got underway at the home of Glasgow Warriors last Wednesday.

Each participating school in this year's SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship has S1 and S2 level boys’ teams competing as well as an under-15s girls’ team.

Balfron High School were the first school into the knock-out stages after winning the opening qualifier last week.

Despite tricky playing conditions 187 tries were scored on Wednesday across 30 matches involving 15 teams and 210 players.

Ayr Academy and Cumnock Academy narrowly missed out on a semi-final place to Jordanhill School who lost just one match all day.

Glasgow Warriors players Ruaridh Jackson, Ryan Grant, Scott Cummings, Chris Fusaro, Lewis Wynne, Brandon Thomson, Pat MacArthur and Callum

Gibbins took a break from training to watch some of the action.

Kiwi Gibbins said: "We've been watching all the players play with smiles on their faces which is the main thing.

"It has been a pretty cold day which reminds me of the first time I started playing in Taranaki, New Zealand. There are so many good things about rugby which I have been speaking to the players about today. When I was young, I enjoyed the fact that you were playing a team sport with your mates.

“For me personally, rugby has also brought me to Scotland and given me a good life over here. It provides so many opportunities to meet people and makes lifelong

friends from all over the world. "It's a special game and the players should stick at it and see where they end up."

At the beginning of this season, Glasgow Warriors announced a landmark three-year partnership with SP Energy Networks which saw them become the

club’s Official Community Partner.

SP Energy Networks, which operates across central and southern Scotland, are working with Warriors on a wide-range of community initiatives, including the SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship.

Twenty-five schools from across the west, central and southern Scotland will take part in the tournament.

The 2018 champions will take home the SP Energy Networks Warriors Championship trophy and brand new rugby kit for their school.