20-531: The Greenyards is a sports ground in Melrose, Scottish Borders . It has been the home of Melrose RFC for rugby union matches and the annual Melrose Sevens tournament. The first ever rugby 7s matches were played at the ground in 1883. The professional side Southern Knights use it for home matches in the Super 6 competition. In 2019 the grass pitches were replaced with an artificial surface, with floodlights around
40-540: A consistently successful club in the upper echelons of the Scottish game. Props Hookers Locks Back row Scrum halves Fly halves Centres Wings Fullbacks Edinburgh Rugby players drafted: Yellow background indicates qualification for the final. Green background indicates semi-finalists. (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. As well as the Super 6 and 1st XV, Melrose have
60-438: A queen and her court are appointed from the local primary school, Melrose Primary School (previously named Melrose Grammar School). Melrose is now host to the annual Borders Book Festival which also takes place during June. The 2005 festival hosted guests including Michael Palin and Germaine Greer ; Ian Rankin and Rory Bremner appeared in 2006. Melrose hosts the annual Eildon Three Hill Race, attracting many runners, and
80-668: A youth side (Melrose WASPS) and a reserve side (Melrose Storm). The club had a successful Ladies side until 2018. Melrose Ladies was one of the top women's teams in Scotland , competing in the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup. The team produced a number of players who went on to represent Scotland. Four members of the current Scotland squad – Lisa Thomson, Lana Skeldon, Lauren Harris and Chloe Rollie – played at Melrose. The team folded in 2018. There
100-737: Is a town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders , historically in Roxburghshire . It lies within the Eildon committee area of Scottish Borders Council . The original Melrose was Mailros , meaning "the bare peninsula" in Old Welsh or Brythonic . This referred to a neck of land by the River Tweed several miles east of the present town, where in the 6th century a monastery was founded associated with St Cuthbert. It
120-517: Is an under 18s team called Melrose Wasps, formerly coached by the famous Jim Telfer now by Jerry Brett and Nick Alston . Traditionally over the seasons this team has been very competitive in the local Borders League as well as being a top Scottish U18 side playing the best XV's in the country as well as touring overseas (Monaco in 2018). Melrose Rugby club also have an under-16, under-15, S2, S1, and then all primary ages groups however only start playing matches at Primary 4. The girls section – called
140-469: Is an under 18s team called Melrose Wasps, formerly coached by the famous Jim Telfer and now by Jerry Brett and Nick Alston. This XV plays some of the very best XV's from clubs and schools in Scotland, as well as touring overseas (Monaco 2018). Melrose rugby club also have an under-16, under-15, S2, S1, and then all primary ages groups however only start playing matches at Primary 4. The girls section - called
160-499: Is most famous as the host of the first-ever rugby sevens tournament in 1883, the abbreviated game having been invented by Ned Haig , a local butcher. The first Melrose Sevens was won by Melrose, beating local rivals Gala in the final during extra time. The Melrose Sevens, played on the second Saturday in April every year, remains the most popular Scottish Sevens tournament, regularly attracting crowds in excess of 10,000. In honour of
180-584: Is still a striking structure. Several Scottish nobles are buried there, and a casket has been found which is believed to contain the heart of King Robert the Bruce . The casket has been re-buried in the Abbey. The Abbey ruins are cared for by Historic Scotland (open all year; entrance charge). Nearby is the Roman fort of Trimontium , Abbotsford House the home of Sir Walter Scott , and Dryburgh Abbey where he
200-609: The Scottish Rugby Union in 1880. The club have played at the Greenyards since the club's inception. Melrose have been Scottish champions on nine occasions and Scottish cup winners three times. They lifted the Scottish Cup in 1997 to complete a domestic double and have also won the Border League on 17 occasions. Despite the population of Melrose hovering around 2000 for a number of years the team has been
220-411: The Greenyards. They have played here since the club was formed. The grandstand has wooden benches and is painted in the club colours; yellow and black. In 2019 the famous turf of The Greenyards was replaced with a 4G pitch. Olympic Games Mark Robertson Great Britain, Silver Medal, Rugby Sevens 2016 The following former Melrose players have represented South of Scotland at provincial level. There
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#1732794482361240-547: The Melrose Pipe Band Championships, attracting pipers from all over the world. Melrose RFC Melrose Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club located in the town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders . The professional men's side competes in the Super 6 as the "Southern Knights". The club plays at the Greenyards . The club was formed in 1877 and was elected to full membership of
260-637: The Queen Bees ;– involves girls from P4-P7. There is a very strong partnership with feeder school Earlston HS. Melrose's reserve side is known as the Melrose Storm. They broke records by winning the National Reserve League three seasons in a row (2016, 2017 & 2018). They currently play in the top 2nd XV League in Scotland against sides such as Heriots Blues, Stewarts Melville, Hawick, Gala, Edinburgh Accies. Melrose
280-428: The ground. The ground has a capacity of 15,000. The press box dates from the 1930s. The main stand on the east side of the playing area has 1174 seats. More than 10,000 people were expected at the 2012 Melrose Sevens tournament. In late August 2016, plans were put forward for redevelopment. These plans included increasing the pitch size and improve lighting to be strong enough to cater for television coverage. In 2019
300-625: The main stand was renamed the Cairnhill Steel Solutions Stand, as part of a sponsorship deal. The installation of the 3G pitches received support from Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Rugby . The official opening of the new 3G pitch with floodlights took place in November 2019. A plaque on the side of the stand in memory of Ned Haig was officially unveiled in April 2022. Melrose, Scottish Borders Melrose ( Scottish Gaelic : Maolros , "bald moor")
320-527: The monks preferred a site further west called "Fordel". So the monastery now known as Melrose Abbey was founded there in 1136, and the town of Melrose grew up on its present site around it. In the late Middle Ages, its name was represented by a mell (a mason's hammer) and a rose (for the Virgin Mary , to whom all Cistercian abbeys were dedicated). The Abbey fell into ruin after the Reformation but
340-577: The role of Melrose RFC in the creation of rugby sevens, the club was inducted along with Haig to the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008. Melrose have had some recent success in their home tournament, coming runner-up on a couple of occasions and winning it in 2011. In 2010 they were crowned Kings of the Sevens winning the Kelso, Earlston, Gala and Jedforest sevens and placing respectably in the others. Melrose play at
360-533: The town. Rugby union has always been the most popular sport in Melrose. Melrose Golf Club is a nine-hole golf course situated on the edge of the town at the foot of the Eildon Hills. Melrose Cricket Club is situated next to Borders General Hospital at Huntlyburn. Every June, the week-long Melrose Festival takes place. This involves appointing a Melrosian who has lived in the town for most of his life; and
380-421: Was buried in 1832. The Corn Exchange , which was designed by David Cousin , was completed in 1863. The war memorial, erected in 1920, was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer . Melrose is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens and also has a rugby union team, Melrose RFC . Every year on the second Saturday in April the famous Melrose Sevens are held at the Greenyards and is the biggest annual sporting event held in
400-501: Was recorded by Bede , and also in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle with the name Magilros . This monastery and settlement, later known as "Old Melrose", were long abandoned by the 12th century. Melrose is surrounded by the small villages of Darnick , Gattonside , Newstead , Lilliesleaf and Bowden . King David I of Scotland took the throne in 1124, and sought to create a new Cistercian monastery on that site; however
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