MELROSE will kick-off the new rugby season a week earlier than usual by contesting a new trophy later this month.

Scotland’s champion club, and Heriot’s, holders of the National Cup, will meet next month in the inaugural BT Scottish Rugby Charity Shield at the Greenyards on Saturday, August 23, at 5pm.

The game will crown a feast of rugby in Melrose which will also host a pre-season clash between Edinburgh Rugby and Leicester Tigers earlier that afternoon, at 2pm.

Melrose mooted the idea of the charity match in aid of Breast Cancer Care - the club’s charity partner this season.

And Director of Rugby Mike Dalgetty revealed he hopes it will become an annual fixture.

He explained: “One of the key elements of the day will be the charity side of it. At Melrose, we are supporting Breast Cancer Care as our sole charity partner this season.

“In the past the partnership has been for Melrose Sevens only but this year we’re making it season-long.

“We are launching an away strip with the Breast Cancer Care ribbon logo on the front and we’ll be doing a 600km bike challenge as well as activity during the Sevens.

“We envisage that as the BT Charity Shield initiative develops it will evolve and the charity element will always be core to the day.” Former Scotland Grand Slam hero and vice-president at Heriot’s, Iain Milne, believes the new fixture will prove a terrific advert for Premiership rugby and help raise the profile of the league.

“Recent matches between Heriot’s and Melrose have been free-flowing affairs with tries galore and we’ll both be encouraging supporters who come along to the Edinburgh Rugby v Leicester Tigers match, to stay and sample our game too,” he said.

Melrose revealed it hoped to raise upwards of £10,000 for Breast Cancer Care Scotland over the course of the season. And the charity thanked the club for its support.

Shona Smith, Partnerships Fundraising Manager at Breast Cancer Care Scotland, said: “We are delighted that Melrose Rugby have chosen us as their charity partner.

“The funds raised over the course of the forthcoming season will enable Breast Cancer Care Scotland to provide essential support, including our free and confidential Helpline and face-to-face services.”