Aberdeen Grammar and Aberdeenshire rugby clubs are in advanced talks to form a partnership for the start of next season in a groundbreaking move.
The partnership would see the teams train together with players having dual registration and able to feature in both National 1 and National 2.
The players from both teams were informed about the development at training this week.
Aberdeen Grammar chairman Gordon Thomson said: “We have held some exploratory meetings and they have been very productive. Everything is going well and we are looking forward to producing a formal working document in the next few weeks.
“The players would be dual registered. It would increase competition at both teams as it would increase the player base as there are at least 100 players between the two clubs.
“It will produce better quality players and give them the best opportunity to get back to the top of the performance curve where we were maybe five or six years ago.
“For next season both clubs would remain independent entities. All we are doing is pooling resources, training facilities. The rules allow us to dual register as long as we are not in the same league.
“Ali O’Connor would remain as head coach for Aberdeen Grammar but we would hopefully have about nine coaches between the clubs working together. There would be cross-fertilisation between the clubs on the coaching front but ultimately the head coach that would be responsible at Aberdeen Grammar will be Ali O’Connor.”
Aberdeenshire president Alasdair Farquharson also believes the move would benefit north-east rugby.
He said: “Discussions have been held about a collaborative approach towards coaching and a smarter way of using resources. There is a lot to be sorted out in terms of dual registration and getting the SRU’s approval. It is at a very early stage. Training will be done jointly.
“We have good coaching resources at both clubs and we feel that if we can bring both sides together for joint coaching sessions then the coaches and players will benefit.
“Nothing has been signed off yet, we are just at early discussions. Ultimately, the aim is to strengthen rugby in the north-east so players who want to play at a high level can do so without having to move to the central belt.”
