ABOUT THE CLUB

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Club was founded in 1893.  The use of the current ground, Rubislaw, was granted to the former pupils in 1914 and has provided the School and the FP Club with excellent facilities over the years.  The present stand was erected in 1993 to mark the Club’s centenary year and plans for the further re-development of Rubislaw are now nearing completion.  Phase I of the re-development, a floodlit all-weather playing facility, was completed in 2005 and Phase II, a new "state of the art" pavilion and changing accommodation, was completed in the spring of 2009.  In addition, new improved floodlighting for winter training is currently being planned with the first section due to be completed by the autumn of 2009 with the second section planned for completion by autumn 2010. We look forward to the coming 2009/10 season with the new improved facilities that are now available to us at Rubislaw.

The amenities at Rubislaw are complemented by the Club Centre at 86 Queens Road, which is only a few minutes walk from the ground.  The Centre has two bars, excellent TV facilities (including Sky Sports), a Gymnasium, Snooker room and Petanque piste. It also has a large garden with a barbeque area. Membership of the Club Centre is open to all.

The Club has produced a number of Scottish Internationalists throughout its 116-year existence.  Dr Donny Innes and the late Dally Allardice were it’s most capped until Robbie Russell in recent times bagged 27 before retiring from the game.  The latest capped players are Johnny Beattie and Moray Low, both currently with the Glasgow Warriors.

Our Club has been further honoured in having provided five Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union, the most recent being Charlie Ritchie in 1997/98.  D.W.C. (Doug) Smith is particularly remembered for also being manager of the victorious 1971 Lions Tour to New Zealand and Australia.

 

RECENT AND CURRENT PLAYING INFORMATION

In season 1996/97 when the Club was playing in National League Division 2 an ambitious 5-year plan was implemented to take the Club to the top level in Scottish Club Rugby.  In successive years the Club gained promotion through the leagues and after 2 seasons in Premier League 2 we achieved our objective in gaining promotion to Premier League 1 in season 2000/01.  We consistently finished in the top half of Premier 1 for 5 seasons before being relegated to Premier 2 in 2007.  The Club is currently re-building it’s coaching, playing and management structures and our aim is to return to Premier 1 at the earliest opportunity.  A development plan to take us through the next 3-4 years is in preparation for roll-out in autumn 2009.

The Club runs two senior sides that play in National competitions and a 3rd XV who play ad-hoc local matches.  Through its Associations with other local clubs we aim to provide everyone who wishes to play rugby with a game throughout the season.

We currently have around 230 players under the age of 18 at the Club.  We run a successful Junior Section with boys and girls registered at Mini level (Primary 4 to Primary 7 age groups) and a thriving Midgets section for those below the P4 age level.  We also run Midi and Youth teams at S1, S2, U-15, U-16 and U-18 levels.  Last season all our Mini, Midi and Youth teams enjoyed significant successes in their respective competitions with further additions being made to our trophy cabinets.

The Club has implemented a new coaching structure for the forthcoming season. The coaching team will be lead by Alex Duncan as head coach with Mark Borowski as his assistant and with Mike Avis appointed as the 2nd team coach. They will be assisted by specialist coaches Alan Hardie and Keith Oddie with Rob Currie in charge of strength and conditioning. Colin Philips has again been appointed as Club Captain. These coaches together with a host of coaches and managers from throughout the Junior Section will certainly improve the quality of rugby at all levels at the Club.

One measure of progress at the Club is the continuing elevation of players to the upper ranks of Scottish Rugby.  Moray Low, Stuart Corsar, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Crombie, Johnny Beattie, Andrew Wilson, David Millard, Rory McKay, Ben Prescott, Matthew Taylor and Robbie Russell are all players who have gone on from our Club to play in the professional game.  We also currently have a number of our young players in the National Academy and representing the National Teams at age group level.

 

COACHING AND TRAINING

Coaching and training sessions for the senior playing squads are held at Rubislaw Playing Fields on Tuesday and Thursday evenings commencing at 6.15pm.  During holiday periods the timings may vary and will be advised by the Coaches.

For further details please contact Brian Clark, Director of Rugby: Tel 01224 211100 (day) or 07909 943 190 (mobile).