Murrayfield will be the base for the academy, and players will be approached before the end of May as the SRU put in place their plans for a scheme which will begin next season.

Only club players of outstanding potential will be given the call by the SRU, who consider the academy system the ideal way of handing Scotlands emerging players an experience of full-time rugby.

The academy recruits will be available to Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, as well as their club sides, and also be free to represent Scotland in the IRB Sevens World Series.

SRU head of player development Henry Edwards said: In assessing our national academy requirement for next season the simple question we asked ourselves was, What will work best for the players?

We want to give them every opportunity to train full-time in a professional rugby environment and we believe this is the best current option.

Theres total flexibility built into these plans, offering each player the right individual development opportunities, with a players best interests always the deciding factor.

Having closed down the Border Reivers as a cost-cutting measure, the SRU say they are looking at establishing an academy dedicated to the Borders region.

Edwards said: This will be an interesting project and we recognise the need to give it careful consideration, following the closure of the Border Reivers pro team.

Although establishing something in time for next season simply was not possible, as the new academy season starts next month, we are keen to engage with the various potential funding partners we will be inviting to join the working party.

Its hoped some worthwhile proposals can be put on the table, to complement the existing junior academy in the Borders. Its a concept we are open to discuss in other regions too.