🏉 Welcome to Your Weekly Rugby Round-Up! 🏉

Whether you were pitchside cheering in the rain or catching scores from the sidelines of life, this is your one-stop scroll for everything Penicuik Rugby.

This week we have Edinburgh mascots, 6 Nations food news, Midi training and all this weekends plans

It’s more than just match results—it’s the heartbeat of our club, our players, and our community.

So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s celebrate the grit, glory, and game we all love

Mailing List

Know someone who is missing out on all the Penicuik rugby news?? tell them to email subscribe@penicuikrugby.org 

The winners of the 200 Club Bonus Draw are:

1. T.Tait (No. 75-June – £275.00)

2. A.Wallis (No. 83-June – £110.00)

3. D.Zavaroni (No. 22-September – £55.00)

Entry to the Draw costs just £5 per number per month. The more who participate, the bigger the prizes and the greater the amount raised to help fund some of the club’s activities. If you would like to take part, please speak to Andrew Mitchell or Andy Law or email 200club@penicuikrugby.org

As of Monday 2nd March we will no longer be accepting cash for payment at the club bar.

Since we introduced the ability to pay by card a few years ago, the percentage of cash payments has been slowly decreasing to a point where it is now less than 10% of our total bar income. However it still requires significant effort to count and reconcile every month and also to bank cash and manage floats.

In conjunction with this, we will also be investigating new point of sale systems which can link directly to our card readers and thereby reduce the scope for error. A new POS system may also enble us to implement features such as specific pricing for members versus non-members etc..

Please contact  (Andrew Mitchell, Vice President, via Facebook or Instant Messenger) or e-mail us at treasurer@penicuikrugby.org if you have any questions or issues with this proposed change. We will also be posting notices around the club to ensure that everyone is made aware of this before it is implemented.

Additionally, as announced at the autumn budget 2025 the government will change duty on alcoholic products from the 1st February 2026.  This will increase in line with the Retail Price Index.  We will be reviewing our pricing and will communicate any changes when the new POS system goes live.

Huge congratulations to P4 Hunter Aizan, who will this evening run out at the Hive stadium as mascot for Edinburgh Rugby in their URC match against Vodacom Bulls.

From everyone at Penicuik Rugby, we hope you have a fantastic experience!

The match will be live in the clubhouse from 7:45pm

Caption Competition

What advice do we think our Panthers scrum half, Ava, is receiving from the touchline from former Penicuik Mini player, Edinburgh player, Scotland age grade cap, current Watsonians WXV captain, Sarah Beaney Cup Winning Captain and Peebles Rebelles riot coach Rachel Law??

Answers on a postcard…..

Doddie Aid 2026 is officially underway, and the Penicuik league is ready for you to join. Whether you’re a seasoned runner, a dog‑walking hero, or someone who just wants to do their bit, every mile counts and every member makes a difference.

And the best part? You can start TODAY.

Why not kick things off with a brisk New Year’s Day walk down to the rugby club. Blow away the cobwebs, clock your first miles, and roll into 2026 the right way. The clubhouse is open from 12:30, so you can reward your efforts with that well‑earned first beer of the year.

https://app.doddieaid.com/dashboard/leagues/league/?id=408

Let’s get Penicuik moving.

Let’s do it for Doddie.

Let’s show what this community can do when we pull in the same direction.

Six Nations

We will kick off the 2026 six nations on Friday the 5th of February with France opening up against Ireland (8:10pm) and the lounge opening from 7:30pm

Dinner will be provided with the finest steak pies Robertsons Quality Foods produce prior to kick off.

Scotland kick off at 2:10pm on Saturday the 7th February and our Hunters coaching team will be providing a Scottish influenced pasta dish for all supporters for half time.

Our Midi coaches will take over the catering baton for a valentines day special proposition for the England game on the 14th of February.

We will be looking to provide further themed catering for the remaining fixtures, thanks to our Panthers and WXV side for replying, however our socials team haven’t had a response from the senior side (to be fair.. the senior side don’t tell their starting team to the social media team so we aren’t holding out for an answer from them)

Think you have what it takes to be a rugby selector??

Put it to the test this 6 Nations with our Fantasy Rugby League!

join the league now no.6667 : Penicuik Top Dogs
Password : UYHAQ
By clicking on the following link : Penicuik Top Dog

We have supplies of club branded thermal cups available for purchase.

Ideal for watching rugby outside in the Penicuik cold.

Priced at £6, please see Gav Stephen for purchase or email – youthconvenor@penicuikrugby.org

January Club Bookings

Friday 30th : Birthday Party

Saturday 31st : Birthday Party (7pm-10pm)

There are currently no bookings in for February

For Bookings please contact a member of the management committee or reach out to Robbie Mactaggart.

*** Please note : while we wait to confirm the date of our 2025/26 club dinner we cannot currently confirm any bookings for May, apologies***

MacWood Fuels Player Points

As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, Penicuik RFC’s attack has kept the scoreboard glowing all season long. Thanks to Macwood Fuels—suppliers of kiln dry logs, stave and kindling for your home fires—we’re proud to highlight the players who’ve lit up the pitch with their points-scoring power.

From scorching tries to cool-headed kicks, every score has added fuel to the fire of Penicuik pride. Just like Macwood’s logs, our players have kept the heat burning strong week after week.

So whether it’s warming your hearth at home or heating up the scoreboard at the weekend, remember:

All we need is fuel… Macwood Fuels! https://www.macwoodfuels.com

Top Dog of 2025 was awarded to 1xv Captain and Stand Off Alan Haynes.

Well done Alan..

All eyes now on the end of season prize….

This Season

Tries : 73

Cons : 40

Pens : 8

Total : 469pts

Top Try Scorer : Logan McCreath (U14)  & Reuban Harris(U14) 5

Top Goals : Alan Haynes 15

Top Appearances : Andy McLellan 11

Last Weekend our Oval 4×4 powered Hunters were put into cold storage following the temperature drop with all the weekends rugby postponed

This Weekend

We welcome Lasswade to Montgomery Park this Sunday.

Meet time is 10:40 for a 11am KO.

The Scrum & Try cafe will be open for hot drinks and morning rolls throughout the morning.

Our remaining fixtures for 2025/26 are below

Peebles Evolution Series – Panthers Girls Review (Powered by Perfect Clean)

A record‑breaking day for the Panthers as we took an incredible 15 girls to the Peebles Evolution event — 12 U14s and 3 U12s, plus a brilliant debut for Libby. The growth in this squad is unreal, and the energy they brought made the whole day feel perfectly clean of any post‑Christmas rust.

U12s – Big Hearts, Big Hits, Big Smiles

Our U12s teamed up with Berwick and North Berwick and faced a mix of Dunbar, Wandies, Gala, Currie, Leith, Melrose, Kelso and Stew Mel. They were fantastic from the first whistle, throwing themselves into every game and bonding instantly with their new teammates.

• Outstanding defensive effort with sharp line speed, strong shoulders and brilliant cover tackles.

• Relentless rucking work in both attack and defence, showing real commitment.

• Exciting attacking play in the final games — great support lines, slick passing and clever footwork out wide.

• Powerful carries leading to well‑deserved scores.

U14s – Growing, Competing, Learning

The U14s took on Currie, Peebles, Leith, a Watsons/Boroughmuir/Dunbar mix, and a Dalkeith/Kelso side.

• Currie were strong and experienced, but our girls stuck in and learned a lot.

• Against Peebles we delivered our performance of the day — direct running, smart ball retention and great control. Libby marked her debut with two cracking tries.

• Leith proved frustrating as we lost possession too often, but the effort never dipped.

• The Watsons/Lasswade/B’muir/Dunbar combo edged a close contest, though we saw some excellent individual moments.

• Our final match vs Kelso/Dalkeith was another tight battle, with ruck turnovers being the deciding factor.

Panther of the Week

For relentless work rate, fearless tackling, ruck intensity, sharp footwork and sheer determination, Anatswa takes home Panther of the Week. Outstanding.

This Weeks Training

From Dave & Geoff

Panthers Girls Weekly Update – Supported by Perfect Clean

Monday – Cold Night, Hot Effort

A chilly evening didn’t stop us, with 13 girls braving the weather and putting in a real shift. Ava kicked things off with a mobility warm‑up before we moved straight into a contact warm‑up to get everyone switched on.

From there we worked a three‑person rucking drill — one ball carrier and two players battling to win the space. The intensity was brilliant. We then shifted into a shape and structure drill, focusing on attacking in threes, working round the corner, and keeping our defensive line tidy.

We wrapped up with a full contact game, and the work rate across the board was outstanding. A proper Monday session with plenty of graft.

Wednesday – Big Numbers, Big Focus

Another strong turnout with 16 players — brilliant to see the squad growing and staying committed.

Ava led the warm‑up again with relay races to get the legs moving. We followed that with a passing drill aimed at pushing passes with pace — no weekend floaters allowed.

Geoff then took over for a rucking block: ball presentation, clearing the jackal, and moving the ball away quickly. Great detail and great effort.

We finished with a chaotic, hilarious and surprisingly competitive game of kick tennis — the ceiling may never forgive us.

The girls were really focused tonight, which the coaches massively appreciated. Another step forward.

This Weekend

No game next weekend, so we’ll use the time to refine our rucking, shape our attack and tighten our defensive structure.

It’s wild to think that less than a year ago we took just 6 girls to our first tournament — now we’re taking 15. The growth has been incredible, and we’re only getting started.

We’d love to welcome more younger players and more older players as we build towards next season.

The Panthers Girls family is growing fast — and thanks to Perfect Clean, we’re keeping the pathway spotless for the next generation.

🐆 Panthers Upcoming Opportunities

We’re delighted to share some fantastic events on the horizon for our Panthers!

31st January – Tournament at The Hive, Murrayfield. Our girls have been invited to take part in a tournament at The Hive, following the standard format of competitive fixtures. After the matches, players will enjoy complimentary entry to watch the Edinburgh Women’s team in action — with the exciting possibility of taking part in guard‑of‑honour duties. This promises to be a memorable day, combining rugby development with inspiration from elite women’s sport.

15th March – Hosting Our Own Tournament. We’re proud to announce that the Panthers have been invited to host a tournament here at home. This is a brilliant opportunity to showcase our club, welcome visiting teams, and create a vibrant rugby atmosphere for players and families alike. To make this event a success, we’ll need the support of our community — so we’d love to see parents and volunteers get involved.

Both dates are ones to mark in your diaries. These occasions highlight the exciting pathway rugby offers young girls: competitive play, unforgettable experiences, and the chance to be part of something bigger.

Women’s Rugby 2026

Update on the Women’s Plate 2026, Turriff and Paisley have withdrawn from the Shield.

Above is the remaining fixtures

1xv

Last weekends home game to Quinn’s was postponed (now dated 7th Feb 12:30pm KO) due to the arctic freezing conditions which we call winter, here in Penicuik.

This Saturday our 1xv make the trip to Livingston who will be looking to bounce back from their surprise defeat away at Earlston last Saturday.

At the time of going to press the selectors have not released the starting line up, apologies to our positional sponsors for not promoting their logo’s this weekend

Around the League

• Earlston surprised Livingston with a close 24-20 victory with points in the final 5 minutes proving the difference.  The game was moved to the main Melrose 4G pitch at Greenyards due to the weather providing a great experience for both sides.

• Corstorphine nil’d neighbours Leith with a 60-0 win, extending their undefeated run to 6 games

• Both sides are in action this weekend, with Corstorphine 1pt ahead of Livingston who have a game in hand

2xv

Our 2xv kick try again in their 2026 campaign by traveling to Prestonpans and face Preston Lodge, which was rescheduled from earlier.