YET another Melrose rugby player has gained international recognition.
But this time it is in the increasingly popular sport of Australian Rules football.
Erin Maguire, who currently plays for the Edinburgh Bloods, has been selected for the Scottish Sirens for the AFL Euro Cup which will be held in the capital next month.
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The 26-year-old, who is a Pharmacovigilance officer and a Sub Lieutenant in the Navy Reserve, was brought up in Melrose before leaving for Dundee University where she studied Neuroscience.
She said: “I’m really chuffed and hope to do Scotland proud. I started off playing hockey but that wasn’t violent enough so took up rugby and still play for Broughton.
“During lockdown my younger sister Lindsay joined the Edinburgh Bloods as did a number of my team mates at Broughton so I went along and love the sport. It’s organised chaos and the fitness required is insane. It’s similar to rugby but the ball can go in any direction. I play in midfield.
“The squad for the Euros was announced a couple of weeks ago and it was totally unexpected for me to be selected considering how long I’ve been playing but I’m delighted and really looking forward to it.
“It’s very similar to GA (Gaelic Association) so the Irish will be favourites but we are determined to match them and the English.
“It really is a fantastic sport and I would recommend it to anyone.”
Sirens head coach Jimmy Brosnan added: “Erin has been one of the Bloods best performing players ever since she arrived at the club and her selection in the national side is a credit to that.
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“She has picked up the game really quickly coming from a rugby background and has continually improved in every game and training session.
“I can’t wait to see what she will be able to produce on the European stage at the Euro Cup and would encourage anyone to come up and support Erin and the rest of the Scottish players.”
Brosnan is planning to get together at 5:30pm on Monday nights at Netherdale back pitches and is encouraging anyone who is interested to give it a try.
He said: “Who knows, the Borders may have its own Aussie Rules team in the years to come.”
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