The current RBS Premiership champions are to ‘dual register’ a number of players along with the Myreside club, who narrowly missed out on promotion last season, allowing players to turn out for both teams.
With Melrose being involved in the British & Irish Cup in 2014/15 and both clubs striving for domestic success, the link-up is expected give the most talented and ambitious young players an opportunity to progress.
A spokesman for Melrose said: "Both clubs believe this initiative is a positive move forward for Scottish rugby as we look to assist the very best young players moving through the club system on the road to becoming either professional players or highly accomplished club players." The first player to benefit from the tie-up is Scotland Under 20 international Neil Irvine-Hess.
The back-row only left George Watson’s College last year but played a big part for Watsonians in the season just gone and is currently in New Zealand with the Scotland under-20 squad at the IRB World Championship.
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