Fresh morale boost for Borders rugby as South lands new kit deal

THE revival of South of Scotland rugby gained impetus at a star-studded dinner last night when Borders clubs announced a new kit sponsor for the next three years.

Rugbystore.co.uk have agreed a three-year deal to provide all training and playing kit for South squads, and will also donate 5 of every new jersey sold to the Bill McLaren Foundation.

The news was announced at a dinner attended by more than 140 people, including 48 ex-South players, at Cardrona Hotel, near Peebles, last night as a fundraiser for the Foundation.

The South will play the Barbarians in Hawick in October, in another fundraising event for the Foundation, and are finalising friendly matches and sevens appearances for the next two seasons.

Fraser Patterson, managing director of Rugbystore.co.uk, said: "The South of Scotland is an iconic team with a rich history and when they approached us about sponsorship we saw it as a perfect opportunity for us.

"We are a worldwide business operating largely on the internet now, but we are based in the Borders and we're excited by the potential to be able to help local rugby and take the South of Scotland name to a worldwide audience."

Entitled "A Celebration of South Rugby", last night's event was like a Who's Who of Scottish rugby stars, with Jim Aitken, John Rutherford, Bryan Redpath, Carl Hogg, Roy Laidlaw and Keith Robertson a handful of the easily recognised faces.

Ian Barnes, the former Hawick and Scotland lock, chaired the event and ex-England captain and Barbarians centre John Spencer proved a popular speaker.

The audience also heard from Johnny Gray, the coach of the South team that defeated Australia in 1984, and Norman Suddon who captained the 1966 team that was the first district to beat a touring side, also Australia.

John Thorburn, who is involved with the South administration and Bill McLaren Foundation, commented: "This was another great event for the Foundation and it's going from strength to strength, which just shows how highly regarded Bill was.

"There is also a lot of good work going on in the club game and enthusiasm still for the concept of a district side that local players and coaches can aspire to. The Borders has been at the forefront of developing the game and there has been a lot of talk tonight about looking forward and helping to revive the unique identity of Borders and South rugby to play a part again in taking rugby forward."