BOROUGHMUIR Rugby Club's mixed season reached the halfway point with this afternoon's fixture at home to Capital rivals Stewart's Melville but, before the match even kicked off there were celebration plans in place, irrespective of the result.
The game marked the 90th anniversary of the Meggetland club. Today's opponents were also the first ever side to face 'Muir. Back in 1919, the Inverleith men fielded a B side labelled Old Stewartonians to face the newcomers, who emerged 6-0 victors.
So began a story of a club that has subsequently been at the forefront of Scottish rugby, regularly landing silverware and producing a string of players who have played at international level for Scotland and several other nations.
After losing out in that inaugural fixture, the established Stew-Mel club gave greater importance to future matches against the side from across the city that would eventually develop into keen opponents.
Writing in the programme for today's encounter, 'Muir president George Clark said: "In season 1922-23 we moved up to play their 2nd XV and in 1925-26 we met first their 1st XV, winning that encounter 8-5. Our first recorded match against Melville College FP was not until season 1947-48 and we have been on-field rivals and friends of Stewart's Melville ever since the amalgamation of the two schools and clubs."
Nevertheless, 'Muir had to battle to be officially recognised, and the club was in its 20th year before gaining full membership of the Scottish Rugby Union. A further barrier had to be overcome before 'Muir were cleared to compete for the unofficial league championship and they left no-one in any doubt that they were worthy a place in that competition when they lifted the title in season 1954-55 at the first time of asking.
Among the survivors of that success is Bob Proudfoot, who accepted an invitation to Meggetland this afternoon. While that success confirmed 'Muir as a force in the Scottish club game, supporters were forced to endure a lengthy wait until it was repeated. Indeed, it was the final year of the unofficial championship, 1972-73 until the players – among them 'Muir legend Bruce Hay – would deliver a repeat.
The arrival of a structured league competition introduced a new dimension to club rugby and 'Muir have enjoyed three victories under the new format, most recently two seasons ago, while the advent of knockout rugby also proved fruitful with the club, with three victories from four visits to Murrayfield for finals day.
The club has become fertile breeding ground for international players as Clark explained, when adding: "Our first Scotland internationalist was Kenny Ross, when he was capped against South Africa in January 1961. He gained ten more caps and scored two tries against Ireland in a 16-8 win at Landsdowne Road.
"He was also in the Scotland team against Wales in Cardiff in 1963, a game remembered only for its 111 lineouts. Kenny is still a regular at Meggetland."
Others who have made the grade in the navy jersey include Hay, Norrie Rowan, Sean Lineen, Peter Wright, Derek Stark, Stuart Reid, and the duo who were named Scotland joint captains earlier this week, Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter.
However, the club's influence on the game globally stretches far beyond Scotland Clark says: "Boroughmuir players who have gone on to represent other countries are Mark Cooksley, still the tallest-ever All Black, Tom Palmer (England), Aaron Satchwell (USA) and Michael Pyke (Canada)."
The club also produced a man regarded by many, and with some justification, as one of the world's greatest referees: Jim Fleming.
The club's history is punctuated by frequent successes in other competitions, most notably sevens rugby, with victory at Melrose in 2002 among the highlights.
The current crop of players, many of them raised through the club's vibrant youth section, could still be around to celebrate the centenary year in 2019. Given the club's current uncertain form, that is unlikely to be at the forefront of their minds, and more pressing will be performances over the coming weeks, as current coach Fergus Pringle seeks to bring about greater consistency and drag his side clear of a possible battle with relegation.
And he will be hoping that some of his youngsters will be inspired by the achievements of Proudfoot and Ross as they exchange tales in the Meggetland bar this evening
