Howe aim to build on club of year honour

HOWE of Fife have shown further evidence that they are one of Scotland’s most forward thinking rugby clubs.

The Cupar outfit were named RBS Club of the Season at a recent awards dinner at Murrayfield and are already working hard ahead of 2012/13.

In the 2011/12 season, Howe of Fife won the RBS Premier Three title and secured the overall Legacy Sevens Series but there is a lot more to this friendly club than just trophies.

Howe have very strong links with the local Bell Baxter High School and from this source players such as Michael Fedo, Pete Horne and Chris Fusaro have gone on to win national hours in the last five years.

And the large youth section at Duffus Park sees over 250 children from Primary 4 level to under-18 age taking part in the sport week in, week out.

Secretary Alistair Paton said: “There is such a buzz about the place nowadays and it really is a team effort. From committee members to players to juniors and their parents we all work together.”

Paton pointed out the years and years of hard work that club coaches Garry Horne and John Lathangie have put in and vice-president Bill Robertson added: “They see the players right through from the under-18s into the first team and continuity helps us get to where we want to be.”

Robertson also believes that players feel at home at the club. He explained: “We love the fact that all of the guys who started out with us and have gone on to bigger things always come back when they get the chance. We want to be as friendly, welcoming and hard working a club as we can.”

Of the next batch of young talent, 17-year-old George Horne has caught the eye. The Strathallan pupil is the brother of Glasgow Warriors’ Pete and son of Howe coach Garry. He scored 202 points in five tournaments during the recent Legacy Sevens Series and, judging by the dedicated group of people involved at the club, it seems there will be plenty more exciting young talent coming out of Cupar in the next few years.