Rugby: Boroughmuir get Moody for new Regional Cup

Iain MOODY, former vice-captain of Kelso, is one of five new players announced by Boroughmuir for the forthcoming rugby season.

Others are ex-Scotland under-18 centre Mike Crawley, still a teenager, from Stewart's Melville, goal-kicking stand off Chris Rhodes (Garnock and ex-Glasgow Under-18) and Andy Watt, the Dunfermline scrum half who represented Caledonia at Under-18 level.

Also, Lynton Brinck will return from a stint in the national leagues with Lismore to beef up competition for back row places while Andy Knight, a former 'Muir regular, has brought initial coaching experience from Forrester to help take charge of the 2nd XV.

Moody is the most likely to make an instant impact and on returning from a playing stint in New Zealand, is expected to take his place at No.?8 for the new Regional Cup competition, the draw for which has been made at Meggetland.

'Muir face a testing group including former league champions Currie and up-and-coming Lasswade.

Edinburgh Accies, promoted back into Premier Division One, await Haddington and Heriot's, while the final group looks wide open with Watsonians bracketed with Stewart's Melville and Biggar.

'Muir official Peter Blackhall said: "This is part of the new structure of Scottish Rugby going forward."

Boroughmuir will begin their campaign with a friendly at Selkirk on August 6 before hosting Watsonians, Dundee High and Haddington in a tournament at Meggetland a week later.

Regional Cup fixtures

Group 1: Edinburgh Accies v Heriot's (Nov 19); Haddington v Edinburgh Accies (Jan 21); Heriot's v Haddington (Feb 4).

Group 2: Boroughmuir v Currie (Nov 26); Lasswade v Boroughmuir (Dec 10); Currie v Lasswade (Jan 7).

Group 3: Watsonians v Stewart's- Melville (Nov 12); Stewart's-Melville v Biggar (Nov 19); Biggar v Watsonians (Nov 26).

Semi-finals (Feb 25): Best runner-up in all groups v Group 3 winner; Group 1 winner v Group 2 winner.

Final: March 10.

• BOROUGHMUIR HIGH under-16s have returned from a tour of Canada where, under the captaincy of Paul Dobson and featuring Edinburgh centre Harry Smith, they won three of their four games. 'Muir are now confident of restoring a 1st XV for the season ahead.

The RaboDirect Pro 12 league have issued draft fixtures understood to show new Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley will entertain his old Connacht side at Murrayfield on the third weekend. Six rounds are scheduled to start on September 2 with a two-week break for the World Cup before resuming on October 28.