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Girls’ rugby team Boroughmuir “Banshees” is up and running
Following in big footsteps
[email protected]Alex gains the first Liberton FP rugby cap since the inspiring Bruce Hay
BOROUGHMUIR RUGBY have
broken new ground by fielding a team
of under-16 girls known as “The
Banshees”.
The Meggetland club chose
International Women’s Day to launch
the new outfit drawn from schools in
Edinburgh and the Lothians and
although some guested from other
clubs the majority of players were from
Boroughmuir. They played three games
at an Evolution Series event hosted by
Leith RFC.
‘Muir official Andrew Cochran said:
“Having a girls’ team out in
Boroughmuir’s famous blue and green
strips is something the whole club is
delighted to see - and look forward to
seeing more often going forward.“This season we have teamed up
with our sister club Murrayfield
Wanderers to enable our players to take
part in full team games at an increased
level. We have played in their strip until
now with the intention of supporting
both girls’ squads and driving player
participation forward.
“We have seen player numbers
increase at this age level over the past
six months with continued investment
into recruitment and player
development.”
Another official, Gillian Nimmo,
added: “Since August, when I became
Director of Girls Rugby, our ambition
has been to build up age group team
rugby for girls at Boroughmuir.
“Girls’ rugby is a really positiveTHE VOICE OF SPORT
East pass the
Wimbledon test
THE EAST OF SCOTLAND men’s tennis
team achieved a hard fought victory
against the All England Club in London.
Each year The Wimbledon Championship
hosts invite a county to field a team
against them. East have challenged
strongly for top honours in the prestigious
Inter-County event in recent years. Flying
the flag for the East were Scott Duncan,
Euan McIntosh, James MacKinlay and Sam
Macneil who went up against an AELTC
select led by former world doubles top
20-ranked Colin Fleming of Linlithgow, a
Davis Cup performer. The matches were
played on Wimbledon’s new indoor tennis
courts, with a number of friends, family
and club members invited to attend.
Ahead 2-0 after the first round of doubles
matches skipper Alan MacDonald entered
the fray with Scott Duncan, recovering
from recent illness, rested.
East momentum was maintained
culminating in a three set win for James
MacKinlay and Sam Macneil.L-R Scott Duncan, Euan McIntosh,
James MacKinlay and Sam Macneildestination we’ve taken into schools,
and we work hard to ensure players are
happy and valued. I’m so proud of each
player’s commitment and dedication,
and delighted that so many young girls
are growing and developing skills,
friendships and are having fun as
Boroughmuir Banshees.”
The growth in the girls’ game was
discussed with Daniel Johnson MSP
during a recent visit to Meggetland.
Mr Johnson said: “I’m delighted to
see the success Boroughmuir have had
in growing the girls’ game.” particular
by engaging in schools across south
Edinburgh and beyond. I was
impressed by the community outreach
work that the club does, their focus on
youth and their ambition for the future.”WHEN ALEX STEWART ran out to win her
first Scotland’s women’s rugby cap in a 20-
victory over Wales in Cardiff her selection
spanned a 49-year gap.
The last time Liberton High produced an
internationalist was in 1975 when Bruce Hay,
subsequently a double British Lion, played
against New Zealand in Auckland.
One person well placed to link the pair is
Eric Jones who, as a young player, absorbed
Hay’s promptings at Boroughmuir before going
on to coach Alex Stewart as a Corstorphine
Cougars flanker. He sees many parallels
beyond the school connection. He said: “Some
of Bruce’s values and character have
certainly helped shape Alex’s rugby.”
“When I turned up at the
Boroughmuir club in 1998 as a
17-year-old, Bruce took a lot of the
young players under his wing
overseeing sessions maybe not the
most technical but “character
building”. Fast forward 12 years
and I had taken up a position with
Inch Park Community Sports
Club as a Multi-Sport
Development Officer with a
specific focus on rugby
development within an area
including Liberton where there
were a mere three rugby players.”
Bruce was the inspiration, showing
it was possible to progress from there toBoroughmuir Bansheesthe Lions. He passed away in 2007 but his
sessions in the late 1990s shaped Eric as a
coach.
Eric said: “Alex has similar characteristics to
Bruce. She’s tough, demanding and will put her
body on the line. From primary school she has
excelled in a number of sports, the closest
you’re going to get to being able to say that
from an early age “she’s going to go to the top”.
“At 14 Alex asked for her next block of
conditioning, she completed the Developing
Player Programme by attending sessions before
school, out on the pitch at 7am. She worked on
her fundamental skills and understanding of
the game.
“At 15 she wanted to play
Premiership rugby and two years
later made her debut for
Corstorphine Cougars. As Alex got
older we had detailed discussions
on what she needed to do within
her role technically, tactically,
physically and mentally.
“We set a number of goals
and one was to produce an
international player. I thought
“This school has done it”
before “Let’s do it again”.
“Steven Kelly, former head
teacher, probably thought I
was mad but I’m glad to say
that that was the last thing to be
ticked off the development plan.”