HELENSBURGH Rugby Club has appointed its youngest ever first team captain as the club looks ahead to an exciting 2024-25 campaign.

Warren Smith, 21, will lead the Lomond and Helensburgh first XV into action when the new West Division 2 campaign gets under way towards the end of August.

A club spokesperson said: “Warren has been a part of the club since he was five, progressing through our youth system.

“Now, at 21, he will be the youngest captain the club has seen. We look forward to seeing where Captain Waz will take us.”

The announcement comes as the SRU confirms the new season’s fixtures – at least in ‘first draft’ format – for all levels of the club game in 2024-25, including both of Lomond and Helensburgh’s combined teams.

The first XV’s fixtures in the 10-team West Division 2 start at home to their nearest rivals, Clydebank, on August 24 before a trip to Irvine, newly promoted as champions of West 3, seven days later.

The Lomond and Helensburgh second XV, following a hugely promising first season in 2023-24, begin their competitive matches in West Region Reserve Division 2 on September 14 against their Strathendrick counterparts at Ardencaple, with a second home match against Dalziel 2nd to follow seven days later.

Their first away match is against Greenock Wanderers 2nd at Fort Matilda on September 28.

The full fixture lists, as they currently stand, for the two L&H teams in 2024-25 are as follows.

First XV: Aug 24 v Clydebank (h), Aug 31 v Irvine (a), Sept 7 v Strathendrick (h), Sept 14 v Cumbernauld (a), Sept 21 v Waysiders/Drumpellier (a), Sept 28 v Uddingston (h), Oct 12 v Birkmyre (h), Oct 19 v Strathaven (h), Oct 26 v Carrick (a).

Nov 23 v Clydebank (a), Dec 7 v Irvine (h), Dec 14 v Strathendrick (a), Jan 11 v Cumbernauld (h), Jan 18 v Waysiders/Drumpellier (h), Jan 25 v Uddingston (a), Feb 15 v Birkmyre (a), March 1 v Strathaven (a), March 22 v Carrick (h).

Second XV: Sept 14 v Strathendrick 2 (h), Sept 21 v Dalziel 2 (h), Sept 28 v Greenock Wanderers 2 (a), Oct 5 v Whitecraigs 2 (h), Oct 29 v GU Hills (a), Oct 26 v Cartha Queens Park 2 (a), Nov 9 v Cambuslang 2 (h).

Nov 23 v Strathendrick 2 (a), Nov 30 v Dalziel 2 (a), Dec 7 v Greenock Wanderers 2 (h), Dec 14 v Whitecraigs 2 (a), Jan 11 v GU Hills (h), Jan 18 v Cartha Queens Park 2 (h), Jan 26 v Cambuslang 2 (a).

All fixture details are subject to change at short notice.