MELROSE Rugby Club are opening their doors to the wider community in a new initiative to make it more than just 'the home of rugby.'

A public consultation will be rolled out in the coming weeks to gauge opinion on how the club's facilities can better benefit the community. 

Local residents will have the chance to take part in a survey and attend series of public meetings to determine the direction the club takes in widening its net for further uses.

Rugby Club President Trevor Jackson said: "The committee are looking at improving where the club stands in the town. It seems to have been a bit of a struggle over the last 15 years to make sure the community stays engaged with the rugby club - so we want to utilise our facilities to their full potential and welcome the wider community to use them.

"We're not necessarily 'opening' our doors with this new initiative, but hoping people will understand our doors are already, always open. We want to build on our club being 'the home of the sevens' and make it even more than that.

"We hope to raise money to improve our facilities and make the club more inclusive for example an enhanced gym space, a 3G pitch, and floodlights so that the football club and our junior rugby teams can use the site instead of the surrounding pitches. 

"We are running this public consultation to hear the views of the public and what things they think the club could take on and facilitate. 

"We aim to give the grounds a more a homely, united, and inclusive feel."

Melrose Rugby Club was founded in 1877 and has always been a central part of the town's history and culture. By opening up its facilities for wider public use, Mr Jackson hopes it will continue to have a central role in the town's identity and benefit as many individuals, clubs, and activities as possible.

He added: "This is going to be such a positive thing for the community and we're really excited about it."