Hawick kids claim junior Kings of the Sevens title

Inspired, no doubt, by their Hawick heroes Stuart Hogg and Darcy Graham, the current generation of young talent from the Borders town made its own mark by being crowned junior Kings of the Sevens.

At the Jed-thistle tournament on Saturday, the final round of these mijuniors even sin the Borders, Ha wick secured the under-18 title for a third successive year, albeit their joy was tempered by losing to Kelso in the final.

Ha wick Youth coach, Rocky John stone said: “This has been another goodyear for ou run der18s. We also won the Borders semi-junior league in fifteens rugby and we reached the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.”

Hawick have also enjoyed success at under-15 level, going unbeaten all season and winning the Boroughmuir tens with victories over Stirling, Perth shire, E ll on and Dunfermline before beating B oroughmuir in the final.

While these achievements are laudable, there is a feeling in the Borders that several clubs, Hawick among them, are not being stretched sufficiently. Many now admit that the B orders semi-junior league, the oldest in the world, is no longer meeting the needs of all clubs.

The massive variability in the size and strength of member clubs results in mis-matches and frequent cancellations due to difficulties of raising teams.

There is no easy solution. It may mean a different league structure with fewer matches, it may mean pooling resources or even mean the stronger clubs seeking competition outwith the Borders whether in a Conference structure or simply on an informal basis with leading schools.

Meanwhile, Perth shire will be in the top tier Shogun Conference next season, George Heriot’s will join the elite Colt Conference and Marr will go up to the L200 Conference.

As yet, though, there is little movement towards schools and clubs playing in the same competitions, a move which could help realise the potential of young club players.