The SRU hopes the scheme allows players on the fringes of the professional teams to play regular competitive rugby as they await a route back into the match-day squads of Edinburgh and the Warriors.

Many of the 72 professionals are unlikely to have any playing duties with the clubs, including Scotland captain Mike Blair, who has been drafted by Edinburgh Accies.

It is also unlikely Chris Paterson, brought up in Gala, will ever play for rivals Hawick, despite being allocated to the Mansfield Park outfit.

Robinson, who is also Edinburgh head coach, feels that the move will be beneficial to the less experienced members of his squad – as well as the clubs, who were each allocated six players .

He said: "It is imperative that every player within the Edinburgh squad gets to play regular rugby and we saw the benefits of that happening last season.

"Players such as Geoff Cross and Greig Laidlaw experienced lots of game-time in Premier One which enabled them to hit the ground running when called up for first-team duties.

"It also gives players on the fringes of first-team activity an opportunity to showcase their merits in a competitive league such as Premier One so that they can earn a place in the starting line-up. Rugby players need to play rugby."