Forrester Rugby Club are currently playing in National League Division 2.
We recently moved to a new clubhouse which is approx 200 yards from the original one. The move was due to the redevelopment of Forrester and St Augustines High Schools. We look forward to entertaining our opponents at our brand new premises this season.
At present, we run three senior teams and are confident of increasing that to four this season, due to our very successful youth development system which has given us 13 players for 2008/09.
In September this year, we are entering a team of over 35’s in the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival being held at Murrayfield. (Our oldest participant will be Dunkan Armstrong).
Our coaches for this season are Dougie Dingwall (forwards coach) formerly of Currie RFC and Andy Knight (backs coach) formerly of Boroughmuir RFC. As this is Andy’s first season with us, we all look forward to the new ideas and techniques he will bring to the club, which will boost Dougies current training regime.
Over the last few seasons Forrester 1st XV have been promoted twice in three years and finished one place off promotion last season. Forrester 2nd XV have won their respective league three times in the last four seasons (Div 4 E&S National 2nd XV League twice and Edinburgh & District once). Forrester 3rd XV have just joined Div 5 E&S of the National 2nd XV Leagues.
At youth level we have our own Community Development Coach Bill Smith who along with Richard Fleming, the Community Development Officer, visit primary and secondary schools in the area taking after-school training sessions and organising matches. This initiative is part funded by React-to-Rugby.
From our youth ranks we currently have a number of players involved in the Pathways squads. Many of those players have also been invited to the SRU national training camp at Struan.
Every year for the past 29 years, Forrester Rugby Club have sent a team to Northern Ireland to compete in the Carrickfergus 7’s Tournament which is now the top tournament of its kind in the Ulster Region. During our weekend trip we also play a Carrickfergus Select XV for the Jimmy Robertson Memorial Trophy in memory of a former Forrester club member. In 2009, our 30th anniversary is greatly anticipated.
Forrester Rugby Club has the potential to rise up through the leagues over the next decade and with the dedication from our coaches, players and management teams this is an obtainable goal.
As a constantly improving club we are always on the look out for new recruits. We cater for rugby players of all levels, from first XV hopefuls to social players. In our youth set up there is always an opportunity for potential coaches of the future to help us.
Come along, you might just enjoy yourself enough to stay.
Andy McCulloch.