But Melrose stars Bruce Colvine and Grant Runciman, pictured above, are set to miss the start of the new season, as well as the club’s Border League final and remainder of the Kings of the Sevens series, after they accepted an opportunity play in New Zealand.

They are set to team up at Southbridge - the hometown of All Blacks star Dan Carter. Colvine revealed he and Runciman were “excited” about the new challenge.

“We’ve been at Melrose since we were 16 so we’re excited to see what other clubs do and what their facilities are like on the other side of the world,” he told the Border Telegraph.

“I leave for Christchurch a week on Monday and I’m to-ing and fro-ing over whether or not I might play (at Hawick) next Saturday.” Colvine revealed his heart would always belong to Melrose and confirmed he expected to return an even better player in October - several weeks in to the new RBS Premiership season.

“I’m excited, it’s something different, it’s a new challenge.” But he added: “I’ll always be a Melrose boy.” Colvine and Runciman were part of the Melrose team which won the Gala Sevens a fortnight ago. And they almost led Melrose to another final at their home tournament on Saturday.

Speaking following his side’s exit at the hands of Edinburgh Accies, Colvine said: “It was tough today, we feel we let ourselves down a little bit by not performing to the best of our ability.” But, of the occasion itself, he added: “It’s brilliant, for someone from Melrose it’s a boyhood dream to play here, at your home tournament, in front of all those people.”