Boroughmuir Rugby Club are on the brink of forming their first-ever women’s team.
The move comes after the successful creation of the “Banshees” who are run for girls aged under-16 and under-18 three years ago.
It is a natural move according to Gillian Nimmo, director of girls and women’s rugby but one she insists cannot be rushed at the Commsworld sponsored outfit.
“I can see it taking up to 10 years before we’d be good enough to compete at Premiership level and we will just have to take it a step at a time.
“We are in discussions with someone looking to come on board and create the women’s team but the starting place would be Scottish Rugby’s Aspiring League.
“It’s been a challenging season so far including with the loss of coach Callum McFeat-Smith – the girls were devastated when he told them he was leaving for a job in Hong Kong – but George Stevens is combining playing for the Boroughmuir men’s team with coaching duties so things are looking up again.
“A big part of that is a link up with Lasswade and with rugby politics set aside it is amazing what can be achieved when the great good of the game is put first.
“Coaches are learning from each other and teams are responding to one message.”
Another key element in the Banshees development was the recent women’s world cup won by hosts England.
“We had a lot of people going down south to watch matches and the message hit home that the players taking part all started ast clubs like our, proving it can be done to reach the very top.”
Last season Banshees supplied three girls to the Scottish under-16 squad and one to the under-18s’s.
“That’s pretty cool for a club formed only three years ago” says Gillian.
“We aspire to do something similar in the new year when district rugby arrives but while recognising success is not only about winning matches or creating representative opportunities.
“Success is also about getting players on the pitch and the team coming together socially.”
To that end Banshees have a series of off field events planned on an educational basis including chats with a nutrionist as well as advice on preparing for exams, balancing sport with studies and addressing (job) recruitment.”
