Greenyards snub a Gray area

Published 25 May 2010 11:42 0 Comments

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DESPITE the demise of the Reivers, officials at Murrayfield should be taking the lead from Borders rugby, which is growing in stature.

And former Gala coach Richie Gray, project leader of BASE (Borders Academy of Sporting Excellence) at Borders College, has called on Caledonia, Edinburgh and Glasgow to hold its own Kings of the Sevens.

This, he said, could finish with a grand finals day at the national stadium with the winners from each region playing off for the title.

"They (officials) who sit behind their desks could learn a lesson from the Borders. "We would get a bigger crowd than at cup finals day with supporters from all the districts there."

His comments came on the day before the Borders Kings of the Sevens was decided at Jed-Forest after Melrose beat Selkirk in extra time to take the cups in front of a crowd estimated in the region of 5000.

With the SRU snubbing Melrose as a venue for the IRB Sevens, this sent a message of intent to the Union.

Gray, giving the toast to Rugby Union at the Earlston dinner, said that the Borders still led the way with clubs doing well, the rebirth of the South, and a successful Kings of the Sevens and Semi-Junior League and also sevens junior circuit.

Next season, too, Melrose would play in the British-Irish Cup, clubs were striving to play in Premiership 1, and there is a really strength in depth in the Borders. "We have a lot of good young players, the problem is keeping them here."

Mr Gray also highlighted the progress of the BASE programme, which would see the number of students rise from 20 to 100 - and this, he said, was an example for the rest of Scotland to follow if they wanted to be successful.

Mr Gray went on to praise the resurrected South of Scotland, who beat Northumberland, at Netherdale.

"There was a real wish for the team to do well and it was a credit on a night of -7deg that 2000 turned up for the game.

"I think that the South could be a huge cult thing in the Borders, and with the red-and-white jersey back, it gives a real push for the club players.

"They know that they are being watched and given an opportunity to get into the South team."

Earlston, despite its lower league position, buck the trend with its annual dinner while other clubs no longer meet to mark the end of another season. President Hugh Briggs was in the chair.

Other speakers at the dinner were Radio Borders sports presented Bruce Millar, who toasted the club, the club duo of Stephen Brown and David Wilson, and Mungo Riddell.

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