The only independent boys' boarding school in Scotland may not be able to claim quite such eminence in 2002, but their status is unquestionable. Winners of the Scottish Schools Cup four times in the past five years-they were beaten finalists in 1998-99-Merchiston have been a conveyor belt in producing internationals, 62 since 1871, including Peter Walton, Craig Joiner, and Jamie Mayer in recent years. Although Merchiston have internationals in eight different sports, rugby is the activity for which they have been renowned.

So when Mark Appleson last season succeeded Frank Hadden as coach to the first team after such a successful era, the experience could have been daunting. However, Appleson, a former player with London Scottish, Sale and Leeds, still found a focused desire for improvement rather than complacency. He said: "They train with often a greater intensity than boys of the same age in England."

Together with Charles Swan, the head of PE and former Scotland A player, he set about increasing the attacking options among the backs. Appleson said: "We explained to them, that they had no divine right to score." To continue their improvement, Merchiston are to tour South Africa this August, sponsored by Glenvarigill, the car retailer.

They are also planning to have more games against English schools next winter when their opponents are expected to include Sedbergh, Newcastle RGS, Manchester Grammar School, Colston's and Durham. This is partly because the state sector in Scotland produces so few outstanding sides-seven of the eight quarter-finalists at Murrayfield in this year's national knockout competition were independent schools.

One important factor in Merchiston's success last season was the balance of the back row. Ben Dunnett, the No 8, captain and under-18 international, is the ball-carrier while alongside him is the skill of Duncan Brown, who has captained the Scotland under-18 A team. Although both will have left by next season, they welcome the increase in matches against English schools. Brown said: "The English boys are usually bigger and stronger. Often in England they turn big people into rugby players whereas in Scotland it is the other way round."