In this weeks club news we look ahead to this weekends games, meet the player is Simon Glen, look back to 1961, and release details of the Mini’s Easter Rugby Camp, 7’s tournament and the players dinner.

Please note next Saturday is Super Saturday and we will be open from 11:30am ahead of the opening game Scotland v Italy at 12:30.  Get early to get your seat!

This Weekend

Weather permitting (at time of writing we are all good to go), we have a whole day of rugby planned for the Old Pavilion.

We welcome Northern FC U14 side from Newcastle who are up to face our U14 side.  Northern FC currently play in the Regional 2 North of Northern Division in English rugby and sit 3rd at present.  Its great to have them up here, and hopefully they will enjoy the hospitality and their time up here.  Kick off is 10am

Our U16 kick off at 10:30 at home to Knox/Haddington in the BOY’S U16 EAST YOUTH SHIELD – PHASE 2

At 2:15pm we will be screening round 4 of The Guinness 6 Nations with Italy v Wales

3pm, our 2xv welcome Watsonians 3xv in the TENNENT’S EAST RESERVE LEAGUE DIVISION 3 STAGE 2.  Watsonians sit 1 place above in the league, and with the news our 2xv have moved up a league next season, this is a great opportunity to keep building towards a higher level of rugby next season.

Its always a pleasure to entertain Watsonians.   Over the more recent years Watson’s stalwart Gavin Brown moved to see out his twilight years playing in a Penicuik shirt whilst Penicuik players Stuart Tait, Bruce Lambie and Matt Morrell all made the move over to Myreside.  Watsonians legend Graham “Stan” Buchan had a spell coaching the Penicuik 1xv, whilst his son Ross Buchan also turned out for the Penicuik 7’s side.  And if we got back further Pete Gallagher also combined Watsonians with a Penicuik strip.  And todays generation are no exception, with Penicuik youth academy player Rachel Law now pulling on the #9 strip for Watsonians Ladies.

Guinness 6 Nations action continues at 4:45pm with ‘Le Crunch’ England v France.

On Sunday, our micro’s and mini’s train at 11 am, then the club opens at 2pm for Scotland v Ireland (ko 3pm).  The club is always a special place on 6Nations games, the more people that come down, the better the atmosphere.

Rich Mann 2xv Coach

The 2nds play Watsonians 3xv today for the 4th game in the top 6 play off.

Last week saw the league leaders, Currie 3xv, win here 24-0.  The scoreline doesn’t reflect the game with 3 tries in the final few minutes proving the difference.

We played some great rugby with forwards and backs combining for some great offloads and running rugby.  There will have been some sore bodies on the Sunday morning with the big hits that went in.

Last time out away to Watsonians it was a tight 32-19 game with tries from McCormick, Smith and Randall, however we only had 18 players which included myself and Ben on the bench.  Having a full squad and bench tomorrow will give us confidence when the legs start to tire.

Kick off 3pm Montgomery Park

Teams

A settled team from last week with only a couple changes, we welcome back Stephen Findlay and JR McCulloch on the reserve bench after some time away.

Archive Photo

Todays featured photo is the Penicuik 1xv from 1961 against Edinburgh Accies.

Club member Sandy Simpson ran a local newsagents, and was also a member of Edinburgh Accies.  Every year, for an end of season game, he’d bring out an Edinburgh Accies side to face Penicuik.  As Edin Accies were further up the leagues, Penicuik were allowed a guest player for these fixtures.  in the 1961 game, Penicuik called upon Ken Ross.  Ken was the first player from Boroughmuir to be capped for Scotland  (was capped Jan 1961 3 months before this photo was taken) against South Africa, and went on to earn 11 caps.

Back Row : A.Montgomery, A.Dempster, D.Hall, J.McPherson, I.Stoddart, K.Ross, A.W.Craig

Front Row : W.Golightly, A.Imlah, A.Brown, J.Wilson, I.Barrie

Kneeling : R.Kerr, W.Ferguson

Oh…. Penicuik won 19-3

Next Weekend

Easter Camp P1-P7 Boys & Girls

Our Easter Camp booking is now live, please see the link https://penicuikrugby.org/portfolio-items/easter-rugby-camp-2023/?portfolioCats=10 to sign up your child.

The three days will consist of fun and engaging sessions that not only benefit them on a rugby field but also develop them as a person.  Our coaching is open to players of all abilities, providing a great introduction to rugby, or an opportunity for skill development, but most importantly a fun way to spend the holidays with friends.

These are aimed at all Boys & Girls in P1-P7 and no previous rugby experience is required.

Dates : April 3rd, 4th & 5th

Times 8:30am – 12:30pm

Breakfast will be provided 8:30-9:00am and Lunch will be provided 12:00-12:30 inside our clubhouse

If you would like your child to attend please complete the form below and we will contact you with payment information.

You do not need to be a member or currently playing, everyone is welcome

For queries please contact Josh at do@pencuikrugby.org

*thanks the generosity of our sponsors McKenzie Skip Hire, Allan Hay Roofing & Building, Uniq, Shand & Burns Financial and all our player sponsors we have been able to absorb the costs of running the Easter Camp allowing as many children as possible to come and enjoy the 3 mornings of rugby in Penicuik

Meet the player

Simon Glen, sponsored by www.getapiper.com

Oh how we wish Simon had played in his prime!  A feature of our youth section, Simon took time away from rugby in his early 20’s due to a young family and only came back to rugby around 20yrs later.  The 2021/22 2xv player of the season, Simon’s performances has seen him feature in several 1xv games the past couple seasons.  Its no secret that Simon’s return also seen the club increasing its stock of Guinness.

Position : 2nd Row

Age : 47

Favourite chat group : Peni Boys – Mates chat group, usual banter

Last song listened Spotify/Apple musics etc : Eagle Eyed Cherry – Save Tonight

Current box set watching : Last of Us, bloody awesome show

Current job : Neonatal ICU nurse

Who do you sit next to in changing room : Anywhere, but I’m always drawn near to Moff and Likes

Tell us something your team mates don’t know : I’m handy on the guitar and can play a mean Johnny B Goode

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Mini Rugby

In and Around the Clubhouse

The past few weeks we’ve been spotting players turning up at various places.  The Rugby Pod were up recently playing live at the Usher Hall, in the cheap seats were the players who have families and can only spare a few quid, whilst in the posh expensive seats Andy Young and Max Ogilvie were observed enjoying the banter from Big Jim and Goody.

Penicuik is 3264 miles from New York, and New York has a population of 8.468m, but yet that didn’t stop 1xv scrum half John Sprott being spotted aboard the deck of the USS Intrepid by one of our older members

Our mini’s recently entertained Portobello in what was a great morning of rugby, eagle eyed P7 coaches spotted  former Penicuik 1xv  player, Calum Webster, take charge of the Portobello U6 side.  After the games, Calum brought his family into the clubhouse to look for evidence he could show he once played.  Although we had none on display we did later dig out an action shot and sent it over to him

What’s Coming Up

Penicuik 7’s – 22nd April

12 teams are currently booked and we are planning for the biggest day in the Penicuik Rugby Calendar.  We are always on the look out for volunteers and tombola items for the day.  If you can help please speak to a member of the committee or email info@penicuikrugby.org

Players Dinner – 13th May

Details to follow

Penicuik Rugby Principal Sponsors

Penicuik Rugby Player Sponsors