Location Melrose, Scotland Coach(es) Rob Chrystie Founded 1877 | President Trevor Jackson 2015–16 4th League Scottish Premiership | |
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Full name Melrose Rugby Football Club Ground(s) The Greenyards (Capacity: up to 15,000) | ||
Melrose Rugby Football Club, located and founded in the town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders in 1877.
Contents
History
The club was formed in 1877 and was elected to full membership of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1880. The club have played at the Greenyards since the club's inception.
Melrose have been Scottish champions on nine occasions (1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2011, 2012 and 2014). Melrose lifted the Scottish Cup in 1997 to complete a domestic double and won the cup for a second time in 2008. The club have been cup runners up in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2016. They have also won the Border League on 17 occasions.
Despite the population of Melrose hovering around 3,500 for a number of years the team has been a consistently successful club in the upper echelons of the Scottish game.
Sevens tournament
Melrose is most famous as the host of the first-ever rugby sevens tournament in 1883, the abbreviated game having been invented by Ned Haig, a local butcher. The first Melrose Sevens was won by Melrose, beating local rivals Gala in the final during extra time. The Melrose Sevens, played on the second Saturday in April every year, remains the most popular Scottish Sevens tournament, regularly attracting crowds in excess of 10,000. In honour of the role of Melrose RFC in the creation of rugby sevens, the club was inducted along with Haig to the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008. Melrose have had some recent success in their home tournament, coming runner-up on a couple of occasions and winning it in 2011. In 2010 they were crowned Kings of the Sevens winning the Kelso, Earlston, Gala and Jedforest sevens and placing respectably in the others.
The stadium
Melrose play at the Greenyards. They have played here since the club was formed. The grandstand has wooden benches and is painted in the club colours; yellow and black.
South of Scotland
The following former Melrose players have represented South of Scotland at provincial level.
Youth rugby
There is an under 18s team called Melrose Wasps, formerly coached by the famous Jim Telfer and David Sheil, now by Cairan Hogg. Over the last couple of years this team as become more competitive in the local borders league they play in coming 2nd in 2009 behind Hawick Wands in 2009, with good players such as Grant Runciman, Richard Ferguson, Craig Marshall, Bruce Colvine and a lot more. That year they were very successful in the 7s circuit winning the kings of the 7s. Melrose rugby club also have an under-16, under-15, S2, S1, and then all primary ages groups however only start playing matches at Primary 4.