Selkirk Rugby Football Club are a

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 its m ...

side based in Selkirk in the

Borders A border is a geographical boundary. Border, borders, The Border or The Borders may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * ''Border'' (1997 film), an Indian Hindi-language war film * ''Border'' (2018 Swedish film), ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. They play in their home games at

Philiphaugh Philiphaugh is a village by the Yarrow Water, on the outskirts of Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders. Places nearby include Bowhill, Broadmeadows, the Ettrick Water, Ettrickbridge, Lindean, Salenside, Yarrowford and the Yair Forest. Origina ...

, and compete in the

Scottish Premiership The Scottish Premiership, known as the cinch Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish ...

(the highest tier of club rugby) and the

Border League The Border League, is the oldest established rugby union 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 Nor ...

(the oldest established rugby union league in the world). The club was officially instituted in 1907, but the game of rugby was played in the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Selkirk long before this date. In 1877 a game described as the first to be played under rules took place at Philiphaugh. Indeed, Selkirk sent a team to the inaugural

Melrose Sevens Melrose Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Melrose Rugby Club, at The Greenyards in Melrose, Scotland. It is the oldest rugby sevens competition in the world, dating back to 1883 when the tournament was suggested by former Melrose ...

tournament back in 1883, and have been trying to win the Tournament ever since. The club has produced twelve Scotland internationalists and several British Lions, including John Rutherford, and Ian Paxton, a very respectable amount when the size of the

royal burgh A royal burgh () was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished by law in 1975, the term is still used by many former royal burghs. Most royal burghs were either created by ...

is taken into consideration. Selkirk's youth system is set up through Schools rugby at Selkirk High School up until the 3rd year. Through the fourth, fifth, and sixth years, players who wish to continue playing rugby join Selkirk Youth Club. Selkirk Youth Club has had much recent success, being unbeaten league Champions in 2010 and winning the league again in 2012 with one defeat, Border Cup winners in 2011 and National U18 Cup finalists in 2011 and 2012. They also won the National U18 Cup in 2003.

Selkirk Sevens

Selkirk RFC run the

Selkirk Sevens Selkirk Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Selkirk RFC, in Selkirk, Scotland. This was one of a group of Sevens tournaments instated after the First World War extending the original Borders Spring Circuit. The Selkirk Sevens began ...

. Selkirk's own Sevens tournament takes place annually in May. First competed in 1919, this now makes up part of the

Kings of the Sevens The Borders Sevens Circuit is a series of rugby sevens tournaments held annually in the Scottish Borders. Originally the circuit consisted of 5 tournaments; Langholm Sevens being the last added in 1908. It is the oldest Sevens circuit in the world ...

competition. Current holders of the trophy are Selkirk themselves.

Honours

*Scottish Championship: ** Champions (1): 1953 *

** Champions (6): 1935, 1938, 1953, 2008, 2009, 2010 **Runners Up (2): 2007, 2011 *

Langholm Sevens Langholm Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Langholm RFC, in Langholm, Scotland. The Langholm Sevens was the last of the Border Sevens tournaments to be instated in 1908. Held around the end of every April, the tournament is part ...

** Champions (3): 1921, 2013, 2017 *

Kelso Sevens Kelso Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Kelso RFC, in Kelso, Scotland. This was one of a group of Sevens tournaments instated after the First World War extending the original Borders Spring Circuit. The Kelso Sevens began in 1920. ...

** Champions (3): 1984, 2005, 2007 *

Hawick Sevens Hawick Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Hawick RFC, in Hawick, Scotland. The Hawick Sevens tournament started in 1886 and is the third extant oldest Sevens tournament in the world; behind Melrose Sevens (1883) and Gala Sevens (18 ...

** Champions (2): 1975, 1991 *

Gala Sevens Gala Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Gala RFC, in Galashiels, Scotland. The Gala Sevens was the second of the Border Sevens tournaments to be instated in 1884, just behind the Melrose Sevens in 1883. Held around the start of eve ...

** Champions (1): 2009 *

Berwick Sevens Berwick Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Berwick RFC, in Berwick upon Tweed, England. The Berwick Sevens was the last of the Border Sevens tournaments to be instated, in 1983; but the first in England. The main Borders Sevens to ...

** Champions (1): 2010 *

Jed-Forest Sevens Jed-Forest Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Jed-Forest RFC, in Jedburgh, Scotland. The Jed-Forest Sevens was the fourth of the Border Sevens tournaments to be instated, in 1894, after the Melrose Sevens (1883), Gala Sevens (1884) ...

** Champions (4): 1920, 1935, 1936, 1989 *

Peebles Sevens Peebles Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Peebles RFC, in Peebles, Scotland. This was one of a group of Sevens tournaments instated after the First World War extending the original Borders Spring Circuit. The Peebles Sevens began i ...

** Champions (4): 1927, 1929, 1933, 2016 *

Earlston Sevens Earlston Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Earlston RFC, in Earlston, Scotland. This was one of a group of Sevens tournaments instated after the First World War extending the original Borders Spring Circuit. The Earlston Sevens beg ...

** Champions (9): 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1975, 1976, 1980, 2007, 2022 *

** Champions (14): 1920, 1922, 1923, 1960, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018 ** Selkirk hold the record for most consecutive victories (4): 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 - no Sevens held in 2010 *

: ** Champions (2): 2007, 2008 *

Glengarth Sevens {{primary sources, date=October 2011 The Glengarth Sevens was an annual 7 a-side rugby union tournament held at Davenport Rugby Club The first Glengarth Sevens was held in 1967 at Headlands Road, home of Davenport Rugby Club. Its celebrated its ...

** Davenport Plate (1): 1984

Notable former players

Scotland internationalists

The following former Selkirk players have represented

at full international level.

South

The following former Selkirk players have represented

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

at provincial level.

References

Scottish rugby union teams Rugby union clubs in the Scottish Borders Rugby clubs established in 1877 Selkirk, Scottish Borders 1877 establishments in Scotland {{Scotland-rugbyunion-team-stub