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The Border League, is the oldest established
rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...
league in the World, having been formed in 1901. Currently known as the Booker Border League, after its sponsors, teams from all over the Scottish Borders as well as Berwick RFC from
Northumberland Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land ...
compete every year from the competition. The Borders has always been a stronghold of
rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...
, coupled with the competitive rivalry that exists between the local Border towns, derbies are something to behold, with the teams fighting for pride as well as league points. Although originally the premier tournament for its clubs, the formation of a league system in the 1970s means that Border clubs now play in the Scottish League Championship and the
Scottish Cup The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,Gala RFC Gala Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. Founded in 1875, it plays its home games at Netherdale. The team currently competes in Scottish National League Division One, the second tier of Scottish ...
who beat
Selkirk RFC Selkirk Rugby Football Club are a rugby union side based in Selkirk in the Borders, Scotland. They play in their home games at Philiphaugh, and compete in the Scottish Premiership (the highest tier of club rugby) and the Border League (the olde ...
in 2016.


History

By tradition, the two main strongholds of Scottish rugby have been the cluster of towns that flank the River Tweed in the Borders, and the private schools of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although this situation has changed somewhat, the Borders still exert a disproportionate influence upon the Scottish game, and have made a major contribution to world rugby in the form of rugby sevens. Between them the two camps have directly or indirectly provided the vast majority of Scotland's international players, but their different traditions have produced an enmity based as much on class as geography. That tension was evident even in the late Victorian period, when rugby's popularity was growing in both areas. In the Borders where clubs such as Hawick, Gala and Jed Forest were largely working class institutions, there was a resentment of the haughty control exerted by representatives of city schools on the Scottish Football Union (as the SRU was known then). On more than one occasion, the mutual distrust almost led to the creation of a breakaway group that would have mirrored developments in England, where the rebel Northern League produced the game of
rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...
. The Border sides, however, remained in the Scottish rugby union fold. Yet their desire for more meaningful rugby at a time when the SRU viewed that concept with disdain, was to produce in the 1901–2 season, the Border League, the championship which is now the game's oldest and most established competitive club league. The League's original members were Gala, Hawick, Langholm, Melrose and Jed Forest. In 1912, Selkirk and Kelso joined to bring the competition up to seven teams, a number which did not change until 1996, when Peebles after years of lobbying, was admitted into the competition. Throughout its history, the League has been contested on a home and away basis. surviving even the introduction of National Leagues in 1973. Then with a fine sense of irony, the Border clubs opposed the arrival of the national championship, fearful of the effect it would have on their own competition. By the end of the 1996–7 season, Hawick's 43 Border titles – outright or shared – made them easily the most successful side. Melrose had won 14, Jed Forest six, Kelso five, Selkirk three and Langholm one. Recent innovations have included play-offs, when the League produces a tie, and a points for tries system.


Teams (2018–2019)

Teams will play their opponents in the pool once each (although all matches are not necessarily completed, due to fixture overcrowding), with the pool winners meeting in the final.


Membership Issues

Following their failure to fulfil any fixtures during 2005–2006, many anticipated
Duns RFC Duns Rugby Football Club is a rugby union side based in Duns in Borders, Scotland. They are known as 'The Dingers' from the town motto, "Duns Dings A" (Duns Beats All). For the 2015–16 season they will play in East Regional League Division ...
withdrawing or being replaced – either by local rivals
Earlston RFC Earlston RFC is a rugby union club, based at Earlston in the Scottish Borders (formerly Berwickshire). Earlston is in the of the East Regional League. It is the largest Scottish Borders club not to participate in the Border League. It takes ...
, who are the largest Scottish Borders club not to participate in the Border League, or possibly by Eyemouth RFC (who have since disbanded as a league club),
St Boswells RFC St. Boswells Rugby Football Club are a rugby union side in the small village of St Boswells in the Borders, Scotland. History Founded in 1926; it closed in 1932–33; the club went into liquidation at the start of World War 2; and was revived ...
or Walkerburn RFC who while being far down the national league structure, come from towns currently unrepresented. Calls for
Biggar RFC Biggar RFC is a rugby union club based in Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Founded in 1975, the team plays its home games at Hartree Mill. The men's side currently competes in , the women's side currently compete in . History The club was ...
(geographically just outside the Scottish Borders but a major Scottish club) were also made. However,
Duns RFC Duns Rugby Football Club is a rugby union side based in Duns in Borders, Scotland. They are known as 'The Dingers' from the town motto, "Duns Dings A" (Duns Beats All). For the 2015–16 season they will play in East Regional League Division ...
retained their place, and confirmed their status by playing their first fixture of the season before the National League season had even began. They were resoundingly beaten 62 – 7 by
Peebles RFC Peebles Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Peebles in the Scottish Borders. The team currently competes in Scottish National League Division Two, the third tier of Scottish club rugby. The earliest record available of rugby being ...
on Saturday 19 August 2006.# Duns, failed to make the grade for the following season and were replaced by
Haddington RFC Haddington Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in Haddington, East Lothian. History Founded in 1911, the team plays its home games at Neilson Park. Haddington player Jock Wemyss founded the Co-optimists; following a Barbarians in ...
from East Lothian who were felt to be a suitable team as they play in Division 2 of the national league set-up. {{Rugby union in Scotland History of rugby union in Scotland Rugby union leagues in Scotland Rugby union in the Scottish Borders