Melrose Rugby Celebrate 150th Season Ahead of Borders Derby

It’s a bright time to be around the iconic Melrose Rugby Club, as they head into Round Seven of the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership sitting top of the table, with a highly anticipated meeting against local rivals Hawick awaiting them at The Greenyards.

This weekend’s match will feature as the Scottish Rugby Match of the Week and will be broadcast live on the Scottish Rugby YouTube Channel.

We spoke to Rob Moffat about the people who make Melrose run and the traditions that continue to shape it as it celebrates its 150th season.

For Moffat, the club’s success is about more than results on the pitch. Having spent much of his career in Scottish rugby, he believes a club’s strength lies in the people who make it what it is, often without seeking recognition.

“They’re absolutely massive,” he says of the volunteers, sponsors and support staff who help keep Melrose thriving.

“The players are well looked after. People such as our team managers Stevie Holisz and Iain Lindsay would do anything for them.”

It is a commitment reflected in the small details of everyday club life. After training and matches, players’ kit is washed, dried and returned on specific coat hangers, ready for the next session.

“It might sound like a small thing, but without those people, the kit would still be sitting there on Monday.”

“There are countless things that happen behind the scenes and people do them because they want to. They feel part of the club,” Moffat explains.

He points to Morag Cunningham as one example of that commitment. Alongside providing first aid and supporting Melrose Storm, the club’s second XV, at every game, she brings two boxes of traybake for the players each week.

The Storm are enjoying success of their own, currently sitting top of the Inter City 2nd XV League. Local businesses also play their part, with the club’s butcher supplying meat for players’ meals.

For Moffat, these contributions demonstrate what makes Melrose special: a shared willingness to give something back.

“There’s so much more to being part of a club,” he says.

Moffat brings considerable experience to his role as President. He began his career as a PE teacher at Galashiels Academy, where he taught future Scotland internationals Chris Paterson, Gregor Townsend and Geoff Cross, before going on to coach at Melrose, the Border Reivers, Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland age-grade level. He also coached Romania and served as Director of Rugby at Merchiston Castle School. In 2025, he was inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame.

Rob Moffat pictured following his induction into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame.

That experience has reinforced his belief that developing players means more than identifying those who might reach the highest level.

Melrose’s Academy is central to the club’s future, but Moffat believes opportunities should extend to every young person who wants to develop and enjoy the game.

“Our Academy has been a great thing for us, but it’s important to understand that it’s not just for the best players,” he says.

“Any child who wants to spend more time working on their skills should be able to get involved. Some of them might never become elite athletes, but that doesn’t matter. Rugby should be a game for everybody.”

Supported by current players, development officer Craig Greer and Modern Apprentice Luke Butler, the Academy offers young people opportunities to develop their rugby skills, learn more about the game and progress towards senior rugby through links with the Storm.

Moffat also sees youth development as a way of sustaining the club beyond the playing field.

“If young players have a good experience, they might stay involved as they get older. They could become the next committee member, coach, volunteer or supporter. That’s how clubs continue to grow.”

With more than 200 volunteers helping Melrose operate, creating those connections will be vital to ensuring the club continues to thrive.

The relationships built at Melrose often last long after players move on. Former players who have relocated to continue their rugby careers remain connected, with many returning to The Greenyards for the Melrose Sevens in May. An upcoming former players’ dinner is also expected to welcome more than 250 attendees, including guests travelling from Australia.

“They still feel part of the club, and many of them want to return to The Greenyards for the Sevens in May,” Moffat says.

“That means something to them. It’s a reminder that being part of Melrose is about more than just playing matches.”

That sense of community was evident recently when more than 1,000 mini players attended a festival at The Greenyards, with boys and girls enjoying the opportunity to play against teams from across the region and further afield.

“I was particularly proud to see over 1,000 mini players participating at a recent festival held at The Greenyards,” Moffat says.

“There’s a real buzz around the club at the moment. The players are enjoying themselves and that’s what you want to see.”

Saturday’s fixture against Hawick provides another opportunity for Melrose to put their position at the top of the table to the test.

The Borders derby carries its own history and significance and Moffat expects a stern test against opponents determined to challenge their local rivals.

“It’ll be a cracking game. Hawick have a great history and they’ve won more Scottish championships than any other club,” he says.

“They’ll be desperate to beat us, particularly because we’re competing at the top of the Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership. There is a huge amount of pride involved in Borders derbies and they’ll raise their game against us.”

Moffat is under no illusions about the challenge Hawick will present.

“They’re tough players and they have a strong rugby culture. We have to respect that.”

At the same time, he insists Melrose must approach the fixture with the same focus and discipline they would bring to any other league match.

“We also need to be confident. We shouldn’t have a different mindset when we play a local rival like Hawick compared with when we play any other team. We need to be just as focused and determined.”

Despite their strong start, Moffat knows the league table offers no guarantees as the campaign progresses.

“Being top of the league doesn’t guarantee anything. There isn’t a huge amount between many of the teams and if one side is even slightly off its game, the opposition can take advantage,” he explains.

“You’d do well to predict every result correctly in this league.”

The Round Seven clash kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, with the match broadcast live on the Scottish Rugby YouTube Channel.

For Melrose, it is an important fixture in a landmark season. But for Moffat, the wider picture remains just as significant as the result. The club’s 150th season is an opportunity to celebrate its history, recognise the people who sustain it and continue building an environment in which players and supporters of all ages can feel at home.

Saturday’s fixtures feature several other local rivalries, with Watsonian FC hosting Edinburgh Accies at Myreside. Watsonians return following an impressive Round Six victory over Heriot’s Rugby Men, while Accies will be looking to make their mark in the city derby.

Elsewhere, Currie Chieftains welcome Kelso RFC to Malleny Park, Glasgow Hawks host Ayr RFC at Balgray and Heriot’s Rugby Men take on GHA RFC at Goldenacre.

The Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership takes its second scheduled break of the season this weekend, but there is still plenty of women’s rugby to enjoy, with the first round of the Sarah Beaney Cup getting underway.

Sarah Beaney Cup Fixtures Round 1

Saturday 17 October 2026

Corstorphine RFC v West of Scotland FC

Stirling County RFC v Highland RFC

Cartha Queen’s Park RFC v Wigtownshire RFC

Heriot’s Rugby Women v Dundee Valkyries

Hillhead Jordanhill RFC v Ayr RFC

Sunday 18 October 2026

Greenock Wanderers RFC v Biggar RFC