Border Reivers (rugby)

Rugby team
teamname = Border Reivers


fullname = Border Reivers
nickname =
shortname = Borders
founded = 1999 (Disbanded 2007)
ground = Netherdale
capacity = 6,000
location = Galashiels, Scotland
country

chairman =
coach = Steve Bates
league = Magners League
season = 2006-07
position = 11th
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:"See also Border Reivers for the historical background."Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors.

Border Reivers were active in the Celtic League, Celtic Cup and the Heineken Cup from 2002 until 2007 when, as part of the Scottish Rugby Union's cost cutting measures, they were disbanded. They played their home matches at Netherdale (capacity circa 6,000) in Galashiels, Scottish Borders.

History

Rugby union in the Borders Regions

Borders Rugby has many long and proud traditions. The Border League was the first rugby union league to be set up anywhere in the world, and a select South team used to regularly compete against Touring sides from the Southern Hemisphere.Fact|date=August 2007

Many Borders clubs are helped train and nurture many of Scotland’s current internationals.

Border Reivers and Borders Rugby

When the Heineken Cup was suggested SRU officials were concerned that the existing and long established Scottish semi-professional club sides could not compete against the best teams from France and England and that by establishing district sides they would be more capable of advancing Professionalism within Scottish Rugby.

Scottish Borders Rugby was created in the South district to compete in the Heineken Cup.

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. The now renamed "Border Reivers" merged with Edinburgh to form a team to be known as Edinburgh Reivers, causing outrage with many Border rugby fans.

They were resurrected in 2002 as 'The Borders' and joined the second season of the Celtic League.

Since their return as a team in 2002, the Borders failed to challenge for the Celtic League title, however they performed well during the 2005/06, finishing mid-table.

Disbandment

On 27 March 2007 Scottish Rugby Union announced the Reivers are to disband at the end of the current season as a cost cutting exercise [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6498449.stm] . Many fans and sections of the Scottish media have claimed that the Reivers have suffered due to SRU's determination, despite poor crowds and results, to make rugby a success in Glasgow (a city traditionally where Football has always been the most popular sport). At the end of the 2006/07 season several Borders players transferred to Glasgow Warriors.

Following the decision by the SRU to disband the Borders Reivers, the Border Reivers Action Group was formed to fight against the disbandment.cite news| url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=512542007 |title=SRU board stands by its man |publisher=thescotsman.scotsman.com |last=Smith |first=Duncan |accessdate=2007-04-03 |date=2007-04-03 ]

However in April 2007, the Borders Rugby Action Group conceded defeat as the SRU insisted there would be no finance available from the governing body. The action group will now aim to resurrect the team in 2008. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/borders/6567403.stm]

Notable Former players

* Chris Cusiter (Scrum Half)
* Simon Danielli (Wing)
* Gary Armstrong (Scrum Half, retired 2004)
* Doddie Weir (Lock)
* Gregor Townsend (Fly Half)
* Kelly Brown (Flanker)
* Nick De Luca (Centre)
* Ben McDougal (Centre)
* Scott MacLeod (Lock)
* Nikki Walker (Wing)
* Tanner Vili (Fly Half/Full Back)
* Semo Sititi (No.8)
* Opeta Palepoi (Lock)
* Bruce Douglas (Prop)
* Gavin Kerr (Prop)
* Ross Ford (Hooker)
* Mark Robertson (Winger)

Notable coaches

*Steve Bates

ee also

* Scottish Rugby Union
* Celtic League
* Heineken Cup
* European Challenge Cup
* Border Reivers

References

External links

* [http://www.borderreivers.org Official site]
* [http://www.borderreiverssc.org.uk Unofficial Supporters Club site]
* [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=784792006 Borders secure Heineken spot with record victory] - The Scotsman, May 27, 2006
* [http://www.scottishrugby.org/sru/channel-xv/border-reivers/border-reivers_home.cfm Border Reivers video vault] on Channel XV
* [http://www.setbb.com/sru Scottish rugby union fans forum]
* [http://www.savebordersrugby.com/ savebordersrugby.com]