Edinburgh Rugby support RHET and QMS day at Bell Baxter High School

Organised in partnership between the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET), Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), and Edinburgh Rugby, the event aimed to show how health, nutrition, and agriculture are deeply connected – on and off the field.

The event kicked off with a special visit from Scotland internationals Jamie Ritchie and Magnus Bradbury, who hosted a lively Q&A session before the pupils rotated through a series of themed workshops designed to educate and inspire.

“It is massively important the role that organisations such as RHET and QMS are playing in educating kids about health, nutrition and farming,” said Jamie. “Whether it’s for high-performance sport or not, I think it’s crucial for young people to understand what it takes to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle – especially when it comes to nutrition.”

Pupils were given the opportunity to get active on the pitch in rugby sessions led by Edinburgh Rugby and Howe of Fife players. Others took part in fitness training led by Fraser Allan from The Tin Shed, designed to introduce them to structured physical training.

For those keen on food and farming, QMS hosted a practical cookery session where pupils learned how to prepare Scotch red meat, alongside a nutrition workshop covering diet and exercise.

“Pupils experienced the full journey of red meat from farm to fork across the day,” said Tracy Martin, QMS’s reputation manager. “We’re linking up with Edinburgh Rugby, one of our community partners, to show the complete journey from farm gate to dinner plate.

“It’s a great way for them to learn about the benefits of red meat as part of a healthy, balanced diet - particularly around performance and recovery.”

One standout session came from Euan McKee of C&G Vets in Kinross, who delivered an engaging talk on veterinary science. It struck a particular chord with aspiring vet Maisie Black.

“In the vet session, we were learning about the courses you’d need to take and what his job involves,” she said. “He mentioned farm animals in particular, which I found really helpful because I really enjoy working with them.”

The range of sessions ensured there was something for everyone – whether focused on food, fitness, or future careers.

For pupils like Matthew Johnstone and Bradley Mullholland, the chance to try something new was a welcome change: “It was so fun to get to do things outside the classroom.

“We don’t play rugby, but after the taster session it’s something we’d definitely like to do again. We learned a lot about how the guys use food to give themselves proper energy – it was really interesting.”

Carole Brunton, project co-ordinator for RHET Fife, praised the efforts of everyone involved in making the day a success. “It was a very beneficial day and it really gave the kids a mixture of choices, there was something that suited everyone.

“It is so important for us to get into schools to educate the next generation on the role the rural sector plays in everyday life.”