SCOTTISH Rugby and RBS are delighted to award the RBS Club of the Month for February to Melrose Rugby Club.

Having won the 2010/11 Club of the Season and Club of the Month last April, the Club win the accolade and �1,000 cash prize again after another run of quality performances, good discipline and development at grassroots.

Melrose president, John Reed, said: "It means a lot to the club to win this award and I believe it is a reflection of our collective efforts. We strive to be the best we can be and to be at the forefront of the Premier game.

"The award is a huge incentive for our defence of the title this year. The squad is very different from the players who won the league last year, but the boys who have come in have worked hard to maintain the levels of rugby we are playing. I hope we can keep up the run of good results in the next couple of weeks. "Our youth section is a very vibrant part of the club, we have a huge number of players for a place with such a small population and our youth committee, parents and helpers are giving us a good footing for the future."

Melrose first XV are currently chasing the RBS Premier A title for a second year running and won two games from two in the league in February, beating Ayr at home (20-3) and Currie at Malleny Park (26-22). Against Currie they also reclaimed the Bill McLaren Shield.

Also on Saturday 18 February Melrose Stormers won their only game of the month, 27-15, against Dundee HSFP 2XV.

In terms of development the club has a fulltime development officer, Ross Miller, who was formerly a modern apprentice and who currently plays for the first XV; 50 coaches working across the entire infrastructure; teams at all age groups, a first XV, second XV and women's team; and a close relationship with their nearest high school, Earlston.

Moreover they have around 220 primary children playing rugby and a youth committee encouraging their youngsters to undertake first aid courses and to engage with a new code of conduct.

Inline with the awards discipline criteria, Melrose received just one yellow card during February.

As RBS Club of the Month winners, Melrose will receive a cheque for �1,000 and ten invitations to the annual Scottish Rugby Club Awards Dinner at Murrayfield where they will be in with a chance of winning the prestigious RBS Club of the Season award. The dinner will take place on Friday 25 May. Places are now available to book at the reduced price of �35 per head, call 0131 346 5250