Rugby sides all set for return to action
Dunfermline Rugby Club links up with mental health brand
RUGBY clubs in West Fife will be aiming to resume their league seasons this weekend after Storm Babet disrupted the weekend’s fixture card.
Dunfermline Rugby Club and Rosyth Sharks saw fixtures called off because of the adverse weather conditions that hit the country, with northern and eastern parts of Scotland particularly affected.
Dunfermline’s first XV had been scheduled to host Strathmore at McKane Park in National League, Division Four, but, with Angus impacted severely by heavy rain and flooding, leading to red weather warnings, indicating a danger to life, being issued, the game with the Forfar-based side was called off.
That fixture was the second in a row that Gavin Emerson’s team saw fall victim to the weather, after a match at Glasgow-based Whitecraigs, on October 7, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
New dates for both fixtures have been confirmed by Scottish Rugby, with the Whitecraigs match rescheduled to November 25, and the Strathmore fixture rearranged for February 3.
Of their five fixtures played since winning promotion last season, Gavin Emerson’s side have won four - each with a try-scoring bonus point - and lost one, and sit fourth in the table, 10 points behind leaders Garnock, who have picked up bonus point wins in each of their first six outings.
This Saturday, Dunfermline will be hoping to play their first fixture in four weeks, when they defeated Ross High at McKane, at Greenock Wanderers, who are second bottom with one win and five defeats from their first six games.
Kick off is at 3pm.
In Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Two, Dunfermline’s second XV are scheduled to host Glenrothes (3pm) in a Fife derby on Saturday, after their weekend match at Aberfeldy was postponed due to the weather.
That game has been rescheduled for February 3, with Dunfermline still seeking their first win of the campaign, after three defeats from three matches.
Rosyth Sharks, meanwhile, will be looking to build on a positive start to their Division Three season when they travel to Perthshire second XV for a 2pm kick off.
Mark Love’s side, whose postponed game with Waid Academy at Harley Street, due to the closure of facilities by Fife Council, has been rescheduled for November 11, will be looking to respond to their 38-32 home loss to Strathmore seconds in their last outing.
Sharks, with three wins and two defeats from five games, are third in the table, while their opponents this weekend are three places behind themm with two victories and three losses so far.
DUNFERMLINE Rugby and Football Club have partnered with a clothing brand raising awareness of mental health.
Announcing the
“exciting partnership” with LooseHeadz on World Mental Health Day, the club believes it will have a big impact on its members.
Chris Saunders, mental wellbeing officer, commented: “LooseHeadz’s mission aligns with our own, so it was a no-brainer to reach out and partner with them.
“At DRFC, we want to kick the stigma around mental health into touch.
“Our members should know that the club is a safe space and that talking about mental health is encouraged, just like it would be for your physical health.
“I’m really excited about the LooseHeadz partnership and can’t wait to share with our members what benefits it’ll bring in the coming weeks.”
The goal of LooseHeadz is to place a mental health lead into every rugby club around the world, and equip them with a toolkit of resource to help tackle the stigma of mental health.
On its website, the brand explains: “We fund this through the sale of our clothing range, with 100 per cent of the profits being used to help #TackleTheStigma.
“We believe that by building a community, united around a shared mission, we can begin to turn the tide against poor mental health.
“We do this by creating rugby clothing designed to get people talking.
“Working closely with our exceptional partners, we strive for diversity and a positive impact on our communities in everything we do.
“We will never know if we have achieved our mission, and that is why we will never stop.”