The 2018 Merchiston Castle 7s takes place on Sunday as some of the top schools in Scotland gather together.
Eight sides will compete, split between two groups of four. The top two sides from each group will progress to the Cup semi finals, while those finishing third will meet in a 5th place play-off, and those finishing bottom meet for the 7th place play off.
Merchiston Castle have reached the last four finals in a row, winning the most recent two, so they are bidding for a hat-trick of titles.
The home side are drawn in a tough looking Pool 1 though, with Dollar Academy, Loretto, and Stewart’s Melville. With five of their players missing due to Scotland U18 action though, the same as the rest of the sides in the tournament combined, it will be a tough ask, particularly as their dynamic openside and captain, Tyler Thomas, is one of them.
Over in Pool 2 sit last year’s runners up, Strathallan, as well as the most recent side other than Merchiston to win this title, George Watson’s College. They picked up the title back in 2015. Joining those two in Pool 2 are Fettes Colelge and Robert Gordon’s College.
Merchiston Castle 7s Draw
| Pool 1 | Pool 2 |
| Dollar Academy | Fettes College |
| Loretto | George Watson’s College |
| Merchiston Castle | Robert Gordon’s College |
| Stewart’s Melville | Strathallan |