Duns RFC
Duns RFC have until recently, have been a somewhat fractured club! The changing facility and club house were in the centre of town, the main pitch was a mile outside of town and the training pitch was ½ a mile in another direction. We have embarked on an ambitious project to create a club and playing facility which will bring all aspects of rugby into one location for the first time in our history.
We purchased the Gymnasium building in the old Berwickshire High School from Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to develop into our new club house. The playing fields of the old HS were obtained by the club on a long lease and significantly re-developed to provide a main pitch and a training pitch both with floodlights. Phase 1 of this project (playing fields), has been completed and both pitches are now in regular use. Phase 2 (Developing the club house), is underway through significant funding sourced through, namely; the SRU, Sportscotland, ENTRUST (Landfill Community Fund), SBC, sale of old club house and of course yourselves, Friends of Scottish Rugby.
We have been without a club house for 18 months and despite this we have seen a steady rise in numbers especially in our mini’s section. This is down to a small sub-committee (The Ruck) of dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who have engaged with parents and set up a Parents Liaison Group. They were solely responsible for achieving the Positive Coaching Scotland (PCS) Accreditation in 2012 and have been so successful that they were invited to present at the National PCS Conference at Murrayfield in November 2014.
All age groups are coached by club members who are UKCC qualified. We run mini’s from P3 –P7, we provide coaches to the S1, S2 & S3 at the local High Schools, we have U16 and currently 2 Senior men’s XVs. We also have a full time Development Officer who engages with all Primary and Secondary Schools in Berwickshire. Berwickshire HS along with Eyemouth HS are now part of the SRU’s School of Rugby.
The new club house when complete (summer 2016) will boast two large changing rooms, separate changing for match officials, medical room, large social area, kitchen, dining room and conference/education suite. We also feel that this facility will increase our numbers further across all age groups and provide Duns RFC once again with an identity to be proud of.
On behalf of Duns RFC Management Committee I would like to say thank you to Friends of Scottish Rugby for their very welcome donation.
Brian Richardson
Vice President
Duns RFC
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Duns RFC