Contact
Murray Watson is the Hawick RFC Rugby Memories Club contact, and can be contacted by e-mail.
Full details:
Murray Watson
Hawick Rugby Football Club
Mansfield Park
HAWICK
TD9 8AW
Creating the new normal
The vast majority of our members are survivors of previous pandemics, in 1957, 1963 and 1968. We were not going to be defeated by the current pandemic and thanks to assistance from Stuart Cameron and StuMedia we plan to hold virtual meetings until it is safe to resume our normal meetings in the clubrooms. Our first virtual meeting is available on insertlinkhere. We will publish details of future meetings on the club web site and social media channels.
While we are all starved of live rugby we can recommend a number of online rugby resources to enjoy. These include:
Following Stuart Cameron on Twitter at @StuartCameronTV
Following Rugby Memories Scotland’s Facebook page ‘Club RMS’
World Rugby on YouTube
Scottish Rugby TV at https://www.scottishrugby.org/
There are lots more. Happy searching
PAST GUEST SPEAKERS
Our roster of previous speakers reads like a veritable “Who’s Who of Rugby”. We have shared memories with the likes of: Gerald Adams, Garry Alexander, Sandy Bannerman, P.C. Brown, Finlay Calder, Ross Cameron, Marion Chrystie, Vern Cotter, Alasdair Cranston, Isobel Cunningham, Ron Elliot, David Ferguson, Johnny Gray, Eric Grierson, Jim Hay, Athol Innes, George Keown, Ian Landles, Graham Law, Linda Lawson, Alan Lawson, Alan Lorimer, Allan McCredie, Iain Milne, Chris Paterson, Jim Reilly, Jim Renwick, Dean Richards, Gordon Robertson, Tony Stanger, Elizabeth Stanger, Jim Telfer, Joyce Welsh, and Rob Welsh amongst others.
INTRODUCING WALKING RUGBY
The Club’s latest innovation is non-contact walking rugby for the over sixties generation of both genders. Games take place at the Auld Baths on the third Thursday of the month starting on 24 October. Everyone who played last year admitted afterwards that walking rugby was more fun than they imagined, as well as providing a gentle work out – the nostalgic sook of an orange at half time was a big hit.
Under the skilled direction of our coach David Wright many of the players, who had not touched a rugby ball for over forty years, quickly re-discovered old skills and all of the women, who had never played rugby before, quickly became adept at this new non-contact version of the game. And to avoid any misconceptionwe do mean non contact. In reality the game is more like a form of netball played with a rugby ball – there is no kicking, no scrums, no line outs, no tackling and forward passes are allowed – knock-ons are penalised.
The inspiration for walking rugby came from the popularity of walking football. Walking rugby is largely played by people in their forties and fifties. The Hawick version of the game, however, has been developed for the sixty plus generation of both sexes and even caters for players in wheelchairs. We have even had to change our laws to restrict the speed of wheelchair players!!!.
LAWS FOR WALKING RUGBY OR RUGBY A LA NETBALL
Playing time
Two halves of ten minutes each way.
Game starts with a pass off from centre spot.
Pitch
Length 25m to 30m, width 12m to 15m approx. Markings required, two goal lines, two touchlines and a halfway line centre spot, e.g. a netball court.
Players
Five or seven aside on field.
Unlimited substitutions.
Teams may be mixed gender.
Kit
Suitable clothing for exercise. Bibs will be provided.
Ball
Use size five or size four ball.
Movement
Only at normal walking pace.
Ball can only be passed, not kicked.
No player allowed within one metre of any opposition player.
Penalty, free pass from point of infringement – the opposition cannot try to interfere with a penalty pass. Pass count restarts (see 3 below).
Pass cannot be scored from free pass directly.
There should always be 2 (3) members of a team in each half
Penalty, free pass from centre spot.
Pass count restarts (see 3 below).
Scoring
A try, worth one point, is scored by catching the ball over the goal line.
No defender allowed over the goal line.
Penalty, free pass from centre spot.
Pass count restarts (see 3 below).
Possession changes when:
1- A try is scored.
Play restarts from centre spot.
2 – Ball not passed within five seconds.
Play restarts from where play is stopped.
3 – Eight passes have been completed.
Play restarts from where play is stopped.
4 – Ball is dropped or touches ground.
Play restarts from where ball is dropped.
5 – Ball is touched by opposition (it does not have to be caught).
Play restarts from where ball is touched.
6 – The game must be played within the confines of the pitch except when scoring tries.
Play restarts where the ball crossed the line.
Officials
A referee plus one official from each side to assist the referee (e.g. to count passes and make substitutions).
Important notice
Playing is at participants’ own risk and after seeking any necessary medical advice.
NB Like the IRB, our laws are under revision to create even more fun and enjoyment.