STAFF at the Borders College have welcomed the first and only female student to sign up to their Rugby programme.

Sula Callender, who attended Ross High School (RHS) in Tranent, is blazing a trail for females in Rugby. Despite being the only female student to enrol on the course, she has just as much experience in the sport as her male counterparts.

Since starting to play rugby in 2014 while at High School, Sula has gone on to play for the RHS team.

She now juggles her course of study with training with RHS twice a week and playing games for them as and when they arise, Sula also plays rugby for Edinburgh women’s team, the Murrayfield Wanderers, with whom she trains on Wednesday evenings and plays national games for every other Sunday. 

Despite the jam-packed schedule and many big commitments, given that the Rugby programme involves four full days of College attendance per week, Sula makes the journey each day into College from Tranent, East Lothian.

Sula said: “I enjoy playing rugby because I find it a good outlet for stress. I’m kept very busy by my course and playing for two teams.”

The ‘Coaching & Developing Sport – Performance’ programme allows students to gain a higher national qualification while still working on their technique and performance in a specific sport. 

The sports student hopes to use the course as a platform for a career in coaching in the future as feels that this is the best way to gain the necessary skills whilst playing a sport that she loves. 

She also says that although it has taken her time to find her feet and fit in with the ‘lads’, the course offers so many teambuilding opportunities that have made the transition easier.