Welcome to our new weekly (game weekend) preview of the games ahead.
Each week you’ll hear from our President, Director of Rugby, one of our Captains for the week and get to meet one of our players.
Grab a coffee sit back and have a read.
Club President : Gavin McQuillan
Great to be back, after a false start last week our season kicks off this weekend with an exciting couple of days ahead. On Saturday we welcome both Linlithgow and Currie to Penicuik.
The first XV play Linlithgow in our first competitive match of the new season in the new national shield competition with the second XV having their first run out against Currie 3s. A new season brings a fresh start, a few new faces and a positive sense of optimism. The potential of our senior squads is exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing them build on the progress made last season starting with two competitive games this weekend.
On Sunday morning following a really successful mini registration day last weekend the Hunters entertain Royal High for their first games of the new season. And we are delighted this week to have launched our new Micro’s rugby section for pre-school age children 3-4 and welcome as many as possible down for an introductory session this Sunday.
Our new digital membership scheme is up and working on the link below. This makes it even easier to support the club this season and those signing up before end of September using the code will again receive a discount.
An entertaining weekend ahead and as always your support is really appreciated by all of our players. Cheers Gav
Membership details can be found at https://penicuikrugby.org/online-membership/ please note the discount is valid till the end of September.
Director of Rugby : Mark Blair
It’s fantastic to get the season underway following several weeks of good pre-season. We have a great bunch of guys who are working well with each other and I’m excited to see them on the pitch this Saturday.
Last weekends cancellations were massively disappointing, and if things had worked out better we could have taken a coach load over to Aberfeldy, but it is what it is and we press ahead this weekend.
This weekends starting 1XV is a young side and we have recruited some exciting young players over the summer who are itching to show what they can do. A few of our experienced players are missing this weekend and if the selected side go well against Linlithgow it’ll make the selection meeting next week interesting ahead of our first league game away to Hawick Linden.
It’s great to welcome Dougie Thompson and his Linlithgow squad to the Old Pavilion. The old boys in the club talk fondly of his dad Cliff and his exploits for the club in the 80’s & 90’s. And a special pleasure to welcome mine and Rich Mann’s old side Currie also this Saturday for a pre-season with our 2xv.
An August Saturday with both teams at home is always a special occasion and hopefully both sides can do the business and bring the joy into the clubhouse afterwards.
Weekends Squads (correct at time of publish)
Club Captain : Duncan Fell
I am very proud and excited to be Club Captain again this season. I can see a lot to look forward to this season and the feeling amongst the playing group and coaches is hugely positive.
Blairso, Manny, Natascha and Mark have been putting together great training sessions and the boys are genuinely enjoying themselves and you can see it in the quality of the rugby. The new (young) players in the squad have integrated really well and I cannot wait to see both teams run out on Saturday.
Improvements to the club; facilities and equipment, will continue behind the scenes and will make PRFC a club that people want to be a part of. ‘Mon the ‘Cuik!!
Meet The Player : Thomas Barker
Thomas joined us in the summer after a long spell at Boroughmuir. He is no stranger to the club given his father, Davie, had a long and successful playing career at Penicuik in the 80’s and early 90’s.
We are sure you can see the resemblance
Name : Thomas Barker
Position : Scrum Half/Stand Off
Age : 23
Favorite Group Chat : Cheesecake
Last Song Listened to : Sam Fender – Spit of You
Current Box Set : Re-watching Nacros again
Who do you sit next in the locker room : Martin Pritchard
Current Job : Communications Officer at Scottish Government
This Week
Friday :
Club Open 19:30
Saturday :
2xv v Currie 3xv 14:00 ko
1xv v Linlithgow 15:00
Sunday :
Mini’s v Royal High Rhinos 11:00
Next Week
Friday :
Club open 19:30
Sat :
1xv away to Hawick Linden 15:00 (Bus Provided) Tennents East Region League Division 2
2xv away to Walkerburn (Pre-Season)
Sun :
Mini’s Training 11:00
Penicuik Rugby Principle Sponsors
