In the run-up to the Calcutta Cup, members of Berwick rugby club became national TV celebrities when a BBC 1 camera team visited the club for evening magazine programme The One Show. The crew was there to ask the members whether Berwick should become part of Scotland once again.
"It is well known we are an excellent example of cross border co-operation," commented club Press Officer Steve Newman, "as we are based in England but play in both countries. In fact we have just had two lads selected for the Scottish and English U18 squads!"
Unfortunately for the camera crew, hard frost on the morning of the visit had forced the cancellation of the mini matches against Alnwick rugby club. So instead of 200 members they only got six!
Colin Frame (Treasurer) is interviewed by BBC 1’s Hardeep Giani
As mentioned, Berwick rugby club's duel identity resulted in a great honour for the town as two junior members of the club gained their first international caps recently, though they were on opposing sides, when the junior international was played at Melrose RFC. Based in England but playing in Scotland has always made the loyalties of Berwick club members somewhat challenging and this latest success had underlined the clubs commitment to rugby on both sides of the border.
Aaron Hall from Belford gained his first cap playing for the England U18 AER side while Max Learmonth from Ayton was awarded his first Scottish cap for the Scotland Home Championship side. Both boys grew up together, worked their way through the youth sides at the rugby club and have represented the colts and senior sides. In a tough game, the 28-8 scoreline saw Scotland run out winners with Max scoring his country's second try – his first in international rugby.
Further honours beckoned for both boys with Aaron going to Italy to play against the Italian and Georgian national sides and Max travelling to Cork to play in the U18 Six Nations Festival.
Fathers and sons – Dougie Hall (Berwick RFC coaching staff and Schools Liaison/Development Officer), Aaron Hall, Max Learmonth, Mark Learmonth
Dumfries Saints Rugby Club welcomed over 150 secondary aged rugby players from nine different schools – Moffat, Douglas Ewart, Dumfries Academy, Sanquhar, Lockerbie, St Joseph’s College, Dalbettie, Dumfries High School and Wallace Hall – to its recent S1/2 rugby tournament.
Teams were split into two pools for 13-minute games, the top team in each pool progressing to the final. It was to be a hard fought game, with St Joseph’s College and Douglas Ewart both undefeated in all pool matches. However St Joseph’s College triumphed 4-0 to win the trophy, with player of the tournament going to Murray Little from Moffat. Many thanks to the referees, pitch runners, parents, volunteers and all teams and coaches who did so much on the day to make the whole tournament a big success.
Many players are truly dedicated to their rugby but some drive themselves just that little bit further – literally.
When Hyndland RFC in Glasgow recently travelled to Mull, via the Oban ferry, for a league game it was only the driving ambition of one team member – Paul Jones, a final year medical student – that got him to the pitch on time. With the team bus leaving at 8.30am on the day, to catch the 12.00 ferry, Paul announced that he was sitting his driving test at 8.40am but that, if he passed, he would drive to Oban to meet the bus at the ferry. As this would be his 6th test attempt, hopes were not high.
With the team bus halfway to Oban, Paul phoned with the news he had passed and that he was en route to the ferry. Time was tight, however the ferry was luckily delayed by 20 minutes enabling Paul to make the crossing and the game. The tale does not have an altogether happy ending as Hyndland RFC went on to lose 10-8 despite Paul’s dedication to his team!
Paul Jones (front row, holding the ball) and his team mates
Donald Swanson (Joint Treasurer of Peebles RFC), recipient of the 2007 SRU Spirit of Rugby Award, was recently named Tweeddale Citizen of the Year. The award was made in recognition of over 60 years’ voluntary support of Scottish Community Rugby, the majority of which was with Peebles RFC, and was presented to Donald by SBC Council Convener Alisdair Hutton at the Council Offices.
Glasgow’s first Annual Varsity Match for The Glasgow Varsity Trophy (sponsored by Glasgow Hawks, TeamBuilders International Ltd and Cairn Letting Ltd) was won recently by Strathclyde University, who edged out Glasgow University in a gripping encounter by 13-5 at Old Anniesland.
Photograph courtesy of ImacImages
It was an excellent advert for University Rugby, in front of an enthusiastic crowd and the contest will be held annually with the support of Glasgow Hawks whose Director, Allan Mackintosh, was full of praise for both University sides.
“In the run up to the match, both sets of lads were a joy to work with. They were full of enthusiasm and with a good number of ideas to make the event bigger and better in the years ahead. The match itself was keenly contested, with both sides willing to open out and run the ball. At Hawks we are committed to developing youth rugby through the activities of our Club Development Manager, Grant Talbot, and as well as developing mini, midi and schools rugby we feel we have an important role to play in supporting the development of student rugby. Some people have written off student rugby but the match shows that these lads who commit to their University side on both Saturdays and Wednesdays have a lot to offer both on and off the field. We’ll be sitting down at the start of next season to plan a bigger event for next year.”
Congratulations to Kilmarnock RFC who celebrated its 140th anniversary with a Dinner in the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock on 9 May.
Bolstering the celebrations, the club is holding a festival of rugby throughout the month. Starting on Sunday 11 May with a Mini Tournament, an U18 7s event follows on Saturday 17 May then a Midi tournament on Sunday 18 May. The event culminates on Saturday 24 May with the Senior 7s.
Those interested in either event should contact Ali McCall on 07939 281100.
Representatives from Uruguayan rugby side, Old Christians, famously involved in the ‘Andes Tragedy’ arrived in the capital recently to cheer on Edinburgh Rugby in its game against Irish outfit Connacht.
The visit marks the 35th anniversary of the ‘Andes Tragedy’ when flight 571, carrying former team members, crashed into Andes mountain range, leading to a 72-day struggle for survival and the eventual rescue of 16 men. The story was later retold in the 1993 film 'Alive’.
The team, currently on tour, played Scottish side Madras College following games against Irish sides Lansdowne and Skerries, and though the emphasis is on rugby, the Uruguayans also travel with a football side that played St Andrews United FC. Christians’ committee member, Sebastian Marturet, commented, “We’re very excited about seeing a professional rugby match and the famous players in a stadium like Murrayfield, it’s awesome for us.”
Scottish Rugby was delighted to give the players a special tour of Murrayfield and show them its latest acquisition, the oldest cup in international rugby, the Calcutta Cup.
Club manager, Alix Inciante, added, “For the players it has been an excellent experience. The people have treated us really well.”
Table topping Whitecraigs RFC was recently named Scottish Hydro Electric Club of the Month for February by Scottish Rugby. The nomination, described by club president Hugh Henderson as the ‘icing on the cake’, follows two years of hard work to turn the struggling club around.
“Two years ago we made the decision to change the way the club was managed and now it’s run much more like a business,” he explained. “We’ve been through the doldrums. We’ve put in a lot of hard work, and feel that the results of the first and second teams reflect this hard work.”
With six after school clubs attracting over 100 children, and the 2nd XV sitting three points clear at the top the table, this season could be a fairytale turnaround for the Glasgow club.
Anna Crampin, Scottish Hydro Electric sponsorship manager, added, “Whitecraigs are the quintessential club of the month. Two years ago they recognised that action needed to be taken to save their club and since then they have worked effortlessly to turn the club’s fortunes around, from mini rugby right up to senior level. This is a truly fantastic achievement and certainly worthy of this month’s award.”
Recent winners of the Scottish Hydro Electric Club of the Month, judged on performance, discipline and growing the game:
"It is well known we are an excellent example of cross border co-operation," commented club Press Officer Steve Newman, "as we are based in England but play in both countries. In fact we have just had two lads selected for the Scottish and English U18 squads!" 
sides at the rugby club and have represented the colts and senior sides. In a tough game, the 28-8 scoreline saw Scotland run out winners with Max scoring his country's second try – his first in international rugby. 
With the team bus halfway to Oban, Paul phoned with the news he had passed and that he was en route to the ferry. Time was tight, however the ferry was luckily delayed by 20 minutes enabling Paul to make the crossing and the game. The tale does not have an altogether happy ending as Hyndland RFC went on to lose 10-8 despite Paul’s dedication to his team! 
Donald Swanson (Joint Treasurer of Peebles RFC), recipient of the 2007 SRU Spirit of Rugby Award, was recently named Tweeddale Citizen of the Year. The award was made in recognition of over 60 years’ voluntary support of Scottish Community Rugby, the majority of which was with Peebles RFC, and was presented to Donald by SBC Council Convener Alisdair Hutton at the Council Offices. 