Proposals to restructure leagues Premier Division 1 and Premier Division 2 were approved at the SRU AGM on Saturday 26th June 2010.

The proposals mean there will be a new look to the forthcoming season with each of the clubs in Premier Divisions 1 and  2 playing every other club in their respective division just once (home or away) before the new structure comes into effect.

At this point 3 pools will be formed from the 24 clubs. The first pool will comprise the top 8 clubs in Premier Division 1. These 8 clubs will play each other once (home or away) to determine which club wins the league and which clubs enter the British and Irish Cup for the following season.

The second pool will comprise the bottom 4 clubs in Premier Division 1 and the top 4 clubs in Premier Division 2. They will play the other clubs in this pool once (home or away) to determine who will play in Premier Division 1 in the following season and who will play in Premier Division 2.

Boroughmuir are delighted to welcome back to Meggetland two former players and ex-professionals, Ali Davidson and Ally Warnock, for the 2010/2011 season.

2nd Row Ali Davidson, who first played for 'Muir as a callow youth of 17, has been on his travels playing in Italy then Australia with Souths in Brisbane.

Stand-off Ally Warnock returns after a couple of years playing in the English Championship for Doncaster Knights. Warnock won the Scottish Premier League with 'Muir in 2003 then 5 years later with Currie in 2008.

Both former Edinburgh players will be a valuable addition to the senior squad at Boroughmuir and will bring a wealth of experience with them to the developing side.

Boroughmuir are delighted to confirm the coaching details for the 2010/2011 season:

1st XV: Boroughmuir retain Fergus Pringle as head coach, Phil Smith as Backs Coach and Ally McLean as Team Manager.

2nd XV: David Officer will continue coaching the 2nd XV with Neil McCallum stepping up from the Bears to join him. Campbell Marr continues as Team Manager.

Boroughmuir Bears: Mike Buchan will remain as coach of the Bears and Boroughmuir are seeking a Backs coach to join him. Applicants should contact admin@boroughmuirrfc.co.uk in the first instance. Mark Greene will take over as Team Manager.

Kevin Brown is leaving Boroughmuir to join Stewarts Melville as forwards coach. The Board and members of the club would like to thank Kevin for his many years of excellent service to the club as both player and coach and wish him well in his new position.

Boroughmuir Rugby Club invites you to a fun evening at the sports facilities at Meggetland. Competing for the Pug Webster Trophy are: Boroughmuir, Bruce Hay's Chiefs, Lasswade, Heriot's, Edinburgh University, Lismore, Gumboots, Lothian & Borders Police, Forrester, Glasgow Hawks, Murrayfield Wanderers and Preston Lodge.

To complete the carnival atmosphere the also will be:

• Bar open till 1 a.m.

• Hot Food

• Live Entertainment

Everything for a Great Night Out

To celebrate his 100^th cap, Laing the jeweller presented Chris Paterson with the new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean watch.  As Scotlands’ most prolific goal-kicker, Chris has amassed a record haul of 752 points scored.  Although Chris is currently out of action, after suffering a bruised kidney against Wales, Laing the Jeweller was keen to mark his 100^th cap with a special momento.

Michael Laing, MD of Laing the Jeweller expressed his thanks on behalf of all Scottish rugby fans when he said “Chris has been an inspiration to watch over the years.  His achievements have been nothing short of outstanding and as a keen rugby fan, I’m delighted he’s internationally recognised as a world class kicker, it’s well deserved.”  He added, “Omega has always maintained strong links with sport so it is fitting that you receive this.”  Laing the Jeweller have been a longtime supporter and generous sponsor of Boroughmuir RFC.

On receiving the Omega watch Chris said “Omega is a brand that I have long admired and I’m delighted to be receiving a watch from a company that has had a long association with sport.”

The presentation of the Omega watch to Chris coincides with the first anniversary of Laing Watch Gallery – the largest watch showroom in Scotland.

For further information please contact Emma Strachan on 0131 225 4513 or email emma.strachan@laingjeweller.co.uk

 

Boroughmuir youth section continues to go from strength to strength and this year has an amazing 13 players across the Under 16, 17 & 18 Edinburgh age group squads.

With five each in the Under 16 and Under 18 squads and three in the Under 17 squad the future of the club looks to be in safe hands.

The Hearts and Balls Charity (who help injured rugby players) and PoppyScotland (Who help injured soldiers) will be holding a major fund raising event on 15 May 2010.

The event will be a walk or run over 29 miles of the Southern Upland Way - from St Mary's Loch to Melrose RFC. Entrants can choose to go Bronze (covering 12 miles), Silver (covering 21 miles) or Gold (going all the way).

Last year there were over 500 participants and over £240,000 was raised for charity.

The organisers are looking for teams of 4 to participate.

For more details, and the opportunity to enter go to www.heartsandheroes.co.uk.

On Sunday 13^th December, a hardy group of idiots made their way to Bedlam paintball at 8.30 am (yes, 8.30am!!) to have a day at Bedlam paintball, organised by Derek Murray and courtesy of Offy donating a prize he won.

We were split into the following teams; 

Blues

Derek Murray, Stu “Steamy Windows” Clark, Callum “Ninja” Murray, Ruaridh Inverarity, Kev Brown. 

Blacks

Andy Clark, Chris “The Nighthawk” Whitelock, Roddy McKenzie, Scott Richards, Jonny “Tinkywinky” Latta, Nick “Tinkywinky” Fraser, Justin “Paintball Wizard” Tito.

Despite a clear numerical advantage, the blacks were sorely lacking in intelligence and common sense and the usual banter and ribbing began in earnest, with the opening comment made to Jonny and Nick as they donned their ill fitting boiler suits about their uncanny resemblance to the purple telly tubby, Tinkywinky!

 

The initial games involved securing crates and defending a base.  The result of these was a 1-1 draw. The black team superbly attacked the blues defensive position, expertly outflanking and taking out one side of the defence.  This allowed JT to make a Japanese-esque charge into the base and dive in with his mock bomb. 

By this point players were singling each other out for targeting.  Jonny Latta, clearly had his eye on giving Coach Brown a bit of a pasting and made no secret of his desire to fire off a few hundred paintballs in his direction.  However, the tables were turned on Latta during the game “capture the village”.  Brown charged Latta demanding his surrender from a wooden hut.  Latta, believing the rules of the Geneva Convention would be upheld, duly surrendered.  As his hands rose into the air, Brown levelled his gun and loosed off a murderous volley of shots with a shout of “get it up ye!”  Needless to say, Tinkywinky wasn’t happy!

Justin Tito had failed to reveal to the boys he was the 1998 New Zealand Paintball champion and his stalking of the playing zones helped the black team to kill off some of the opposition.  Bedlam paintball have never shifted so much paint to one player.  Tito is going to check in Paintballers Anonymous soon.

The highlight of the day was the fort game.  Both teams got a chance to storm a wooden fort being defended by the other team.  The aim of the game was to get into the fort and kill the defenders.  As the black team attacked Jonny Latta provided an excellent diversion by tripping head first into the mud.  This almost allowed the blacks victory as the blues rolled around decking themselves at Latta going flying.  Fortunately, some stout defence stopped the black team from entering the defensive position.

When the blues attacked, some superior tactics allowed the crack unit of Murray, Murray and Brown to launch a sustained smoke bomb attack and storm the front door.  Unfortunately, the blacks had this covered and annihilated the attackers in a hail of paint.  By the very fact that the blues got these and other players into the fort, they claimed the moral victory and the Championship, 4-3.

A great outing for all those involved was ended with a trip to Burger King where Roddy McKenzie and Chris Whitelock enjoyed the ball pit and slides.

The banter and camaraderie was excellent and left the boys wanting another group outing.  Go Karting was suggested and will be organised for some time in the spring.  

Just a quick  thank you to all  of those who supported the Muir Moustachios during Movember. You helped us raise, as a team, over £2,200 and we feel very privileged to have you as our supporters. The five Mo's called Andy, George, Allan, Stuart and Alec are shown below just before the "shave-off".

To date, Movember has raised £19,356,172 worldwide with Edinburgh Mo growers contributing over £158,000 to that total.

Having set the bar this year we will be out to improve on it next year - be warned, we will be back and we will want your money.

 

Christmas Shopping at Boroughmuir. The new replica kit is in stock, home and away, in sizes ranging from xxs to xl. We also have new undershirts - The Optimum Thermal Protection - plus many more items available.

 

Open - Tuesday 15th and Thursday the 17th December between 19:00 - 21:00, Plus the normal Match day and Sunday opening times up till Christmas