Borders Rugby has many long and proud traditions, the Borders league was the first rugby union league to be set up. Many famous Borders clubs e.g. Gala , Melrose and Hawick play in Scotland's top flight.

The Borders are one of three professional teams in Scotland, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Rugby being the other two.

The Borders will play in the Celtic League, Celtic Cup and European Rugby Shield in the 2004/05 season and the squad contains many international players. The Borders play their home matches at Netherdale (capacity 7,000) in Galashiels.

When the Heineken Cup was suggested SRU officials were concerned that Scottish club sides could not compete against the best teams from France and England and that districts might do better.

Border Reivers were created out of the South district to compete in the Heineken Cup as the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) did not think that Scottish club sides could compete against the best teams from France and England.

Then financial difficulties - the SRU’s high debt, partly as a result of the redevelopment of Murrayfield - called for retrenchment. After two seasons, financial difficulties forced the Union to merge the four teams into two. Border Reivers merged with Edinburgh to form a team to be known as Edinburgh Reivers.

The Borders was resurrected in 2002 and joined the second season of the Celtic League.

Since their return as a team in 2002, the Borders have failed to make an impression in any competition, finishing bottom of the Celtic League in the 03/04 season and currently bottom of the Celtic League in the 04/05 season, and their existence remains under threat due to a lack of funds within the Scottish Rugby Union.

Famous players

• Simon Danielli (wing)
• Chris Cusiter (scrum half)
• Gary Armstrong (scrum half, retired 2004)
• Doddie Weir (lock, retired 2004)

See also

• Scottish Rugby Union
• Celtic League
• Heineken Cup
• European Rugby Shield

External links

• Official site