Kenny Logan (left) and Rowly Williams at the Academy launch

The club, which was founded in 1878, folded seven years ago and was demoted eight divisions.

Since then they have gained promotion four times in the past six years and are currently top of London League 1.

Academy head Rowly Williams said: "I'm excited about the prospect of helping create a new generation of new players who could represent club and country."

One of the academy's chief aims will be to attract Scottish qualified talent and it will liaise with Scottish Rugby to identify players.

It's fitting that London Scottish should be hosting the Academy programme Rowly Williams London Scottish Academy

The club have nurtured more than 200 Scottish international players, including Gavin Hastings, Damian Cronin, Mike Biggar, Al McHarg and Kenny Logan.

Williams, 45, who is former head coach of London Scottish and kicking coach at London Wasps, will manage the club's elite player programme.

"It's fitting that London Scottish should be hosting the academy programme," he said.

"For those young Scottish-qualified players in England, it's my task, once they're identified, to create the environment to help them to find their potential.

"Some of them will move up to the professional ranks quickly and some will form the bedrock of London Scottish as the club looks to climb back up the national leagues."

Scottish Rugby's head of player development, Henry Edwards, said there were an estimated 250,000 people in the M25 corridor with Scottish roots.

"Scottish Rugby is eager to work alongside London Scottish to open up avenues whereby we can funnel through the best of the talent for consideration for international selection," Edwards said.

London Scottish president Rod Lynch said: "After three years of planning and preparation, I am delighted to see the academy under way.

"I look forward to seeing London Scots once more progressing to national honours."

SRU president Andy Irvine said London Scottish's name was "linked inextricably" to the history of Scotland's national team.

"I'm pleased to learn of this initiative and wish it every success," he added.

"In Scotland, with our small player base, it is important that we look beyond our national boundaries as we seek to identify our best players."