Kirkcaldy RFC to take part in reduced national competition

Covid-19 has forced a shake up of the league structure but, subject to final approval from the Scottish Government, the new season is set to begin on October 31.

Kirkcaldy RFC 1st XV have been placed in ‘Tennent’s Light National Competition 2’ where 24 teams will be divided into two conferences and within each conference will be divided into two pools.

Teams will play each other within the same pool twice on a home and away basis during Stage 1 of the competition and play teams from the opposing pool in the same conference on a home or away basis during Stage 2

The winners of each pool in Stage 1 will progress to the play-offs along with the winners and runners up of each conference following Stage 2.

Kirkcaldy are in the ‘Blue Conference - Blue’ alongside Berwick, Lasswade, Peebles, Preston Lodge and Stewart’s Melville.

The first XV will kick off their season on Saturday, October 31 at home to Preston Lodge.

Meanwhile, Kirkcaldy will continue to field a second XV this season who will compete in ‘Tennent’s Light Caledonia Midlands Competition 1’.

In this competition 14 teams will be divided into two conferences and Stage 1 winners will be seeded into separate conferences, teams in each conference will play each other home or away.

The winners and runners up of each conference will progress to the play-offs.

Kirkcaldy are in the larger conference where they face eight other teams home or away.

Those teams are Alloa 1st XV, Carnoustie HSFP 1st XV, Dundee Uni Medics, Harris Academy FP 1st XV, Kinross 1st XV, Madras 1st XV and Falkirk 2nd XV who they kick off their season away to on October 31.

Kirkcaldy RFC Women’s 1st XV will compete in ‘Tennent’s Light Women’s East Competition’ where nine Teams will be divided into two pools with teams from each pool playing each other twice home and away before playing teams in the opposite pool once home or away.

The winners and runners up of each pool will progress to play-offs.

Kirkcaldy will compete in Pool 1 and will face Dundee HSFP, Dunfermline, Grangemouth Stags and Strathmore who they take on first away from home on Sunday, November 1.