SELKIRK’S CLUB
DOCTOR HAPPY TO BE IN INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AT MURRAYFIELD Selkirk club doctor Jeff
Cullen pictured back in the Philiphaugh medical room. [Photo – JOHN SMAIL]
Empty stands… but Scotland’s players showed plenty of passion on the pitch at Murrayfield on Saturday. RIGHT –
Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg practises his goal-kicking.
SCOTLAND’S resounding 52-10 victory over Italy on Murrayfield on Saturday was witnessed at first-hand by Selkirk
club doctor Jeff Cullen, who was pitch-side for the entire match.
However, Jeff’s focus wasn’t on the eight tries scored by Stuart Hogg’s men nor the team’s scintillating rugby,
instead his sole concern was the players’ safety and welfare.
“I was on duty at Murrayfield as the support doctor,” Jeff told the selkirkrfc.com website on Sunday. “Scotland’s
team doctor James Robson was officiating at his 250th international, and so was asked to lead the team out on to
the pitch in recognition of his many years of service.
“In addition there is a match doctor whose main role is to co-ordinate everything on the day. The match doctor
is responsible for the HIAs [head injury assessments], which take about 10 minutes to perform. While he was doing
this I would take over as match doctor, so it’s very much a co-ordinated effort.”
“As support doctor I was working alongside another doctor known as the resuscitation lead, and we’re the main team
who have to go on if a player has to come off the pitch.
“My role on Saturday was to deal with any musculoskeletal injury, carry out stitching and help take a player off
with a serious injury such as unconscious or spinal injury. Luckily there were no worries on that score.”
With no crowd present on Saturday, Jeff admitted the atmosphere did feel a bit strange. “It was slightly odd,”
he admitted. “When there’s a crowd of 67,000 it does make it quite difficult to hear what’s going on at times.
“So in a way it’s easier not having a crowd there, and perhaps slightly less intimidating. You can of course hear
a lot more of what’s going on in the game, because all the players’ voices come across loud and clear.
“On the other hand, having Covid regulations in place does complicate things. Normally when we’re at Murrayfield
there’s only one medical room in use.
“Yesterday there were three different treatment areas, depending on the type of medical requirement – one for HIAs,
another for muscular-skeletal injuries, while any suturing was performed outside at the back of the building.”
To ensure Jeff was Covid-free, last Wednesday he was required to go up to Edinburgh at 7am to be tested at Murrayfield.
The results came back clear, not a major surprise given he has had both of his vaccinations.
In fact this is not the first time Jeff has been called up for international match day duties with Scotland, having
already officiated at two previous games against Italy, several autumn internationals, and one of Scotland’s games
against Australia, when he came on to the pitch to help take off hooker John Hardie, who had a leg injury.
Jeff’s other role with Scottish Rugby is as the national team doctor for the Scotland under-17 and under-16 sides.
“Last year’s programme was badly affected by the Covid situation,” said Jeff. “We were halfway through the schedule
when the remaining fixtures all had to be called off, which was very disappointing for the youngsters.”
So here’s hoping it won’t be too long before Jeff and his colleagues are back providing expert medical cover at
matches involving all levels of the game. What’s not in doubt, however, is that today’s rugby players have never
been in better hands.
****** SELKIRK RHINOS YOUNGSTERS
ENJOY THEIR LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO PHILIPHAUGH Rhinos P6 & P7 players
pause for a photo call with coaches Scott Tomlinson and Colin Gilmour.
Happy to be back training with her team-mates - Rhinos player Sophie Hendrie.
Rhinos player Charlie Francis successfully finishes the side-step challenge. [Photos – JOHN SMAIL]
IT was almost business as usual for Selkirk Rhinos players on Sunday, as an impressive number of boys and girls
made their way to Philiphaugh for their first training session since lockdown began.
“Today is still non-contact, so things still aren’t quite back to normal,” Rhinos head coach Colin Gilmour told
the selkirkrfc.com website this week, “but it’s great just to get the kids back to Philiphaugh.
“Touch rugby is now okay, so pretty much all our training routines are permissible except for anything involving
contact.
“Today is just about getting them back into it, so the coaches will be keeping it light, fun and hoping to put
big smiles back on the faces.
“I think the on-line skills videos we produced have gone really well, and the players seemed to have really enjoyed
them. We’ll get a bit of feedback today, but basically we’re all just desperate to get back to our normal programme.”
It was certainly heartening to see rugby players back on the Philiphaugh pitches, enjoying the company of team-mates
and Sunday’s glorious weather conditions. There definitely appears to be some light at the end of the Covid tunnel.
**********
ALISON CAN’T HIDE HER DELIGHT AS CLUB MASKS STILL DOING A BRISK TRADE!
Alison Cullen, Selkirk’s club shop
manager, still has a supply of smart SRFC masks (priced at £7) for sale. Any supporter wishing to buy one
should contact Alison. [Photo – JOHN SMAIL]
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 23 matches): 9 – Henry
Bithray; 6 – Ewan MacDougall, Scott McClymont, Josh Welsh, Ryan Cottrell; 5 – Luke Pettie, James Bett; 4 – Callum
McNeill; 3 - Frazer Anderson, Peter Forrest, Aaron McColm, Jacob Henry; 2 – Bruce Riddell, Sean Rankin, Luca Berte,
Donald Nichol, Andrew McColm, Callum Anderson; 1 – Josh Mackay, Andrew Renwick, Luca Merolle, Jack Houston, Robert
Cook, Michael Waldron, Ross Purves, Nathaniel Armstrong. Tries scored: 80. Tries conceded: 70.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 23 matches): 99 – Aaron McColm (3 tries, 10 penalties, 27 conversions); 55 - Henry
Bithray (9 tries, 5 conversions). Total points scored: 540. Total points conceded: 495.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 23 matches): 23 – Luca Berte; 22 – Peter Forrest; 21 – Luke Pettie, Ewan MacDougall, Luca
Merolle, Josh Welsh, Scott McClymont, Callum Anderson, Ryan Cottrell, Bruce Riddell; 20 – James Bett; 19 – Aaron
McColm; 18 – Frazer Anderson, Henry Bithray, Andy Mackay; 17 – Ross Nixon, Sean Rankin; 12 – Josh Mackay, Donald
Nichol; 9 – Callum McNeill.
‘A’ XV
(up to & including March 7th, 2020)
P 20 W 13 L 6 D 1
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 20 matches): 9 – David
Cassidy; 8 – Nathaniel Armstrong; 5 – Jy Griffin, Kieran Monks; 4 – Lewis Martin, Robert Cook; 3 – Michael Waldron,
Ross Purves, Matthew Francis, Andrew Renwick; 2 – Robbie Reilly, Clark Young, Mark Rutter, Liam Blair, Gary Robertson,
Donald Nichol; 1 – Rory Hamilton, Matthew Brass, Andrew McColm, Matthew Mackay, Callum McNeill, Ryan Cottrell,
Josh Bain, Liam Cassidy, Grant Forrest, Peter Forrest, Bruce Riddell, Henry Bithray. Total tries scored: 72. Total
conceded: 58.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 20 matches): 126 – Scott Clark (14 penalties, 42 conversions); 37 – David Cassidy
(6 tries, 1 penalty, 2 conversions); 35 – Nathaniel Armstrong (7 tries); Total points scored: 460. Total points
conceded: 365.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 20 matches): 18 – Liam Cassidy, Nathaniel Armstrong; 17 – Matthew Mackay, Mark Rutter,
Matthew Francis; 16 – Kieran Thomson, David Cassidy; 15 – Scott Clark; 14 – Harris Macdonell; 13 – Lewis Martin;
11 – Jy Griffin, Robbie Reilly, Jamie Turnbull, Paul Smail; 10 – Harry Aynsley, Ross Purves; 9 - Derry Alexander,
Matty Brass, Michael Waldron; 8 – Moray Haldane, Andrew Davidson, Liam Blair; 7 – Rory Hamilton, Kieran Monks,
Robert Cook, Andrew McColm; 6 – Grant Forrest, Harry Borthwick.
Upcomng Fixtures
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News
LAST week Selkirk Rugby Club's Mental Health Officer
(MHO), Ruaraidh MacKessack-Leitch, took part in a filmed interview as part of One Step Borders' "Let's Talk"
campaign. The aim of the campaign is to normalise and encourage conversations about mental health and associated
complexities. Ellen McFadzen, of One Step Borders, conducted the interview, which can
now be viewed on the organisation's YouTube channel by following this link - https://youtu.be/kwtF2VF5dAY
RUARAIDH TO TAKE PART IN ‘LET’S
TALK’ MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSION
SELKIRK Rugby Club’s Mental Health Officer (MHO),
Ruaraidh MacKessack-Leitch, is to be interviewed this Thursday (March 25) as part of One Step Borders’ “Let's Talk”
campaign. The aim of the campaign is to normalise and encourage conversations about mental health and associated
complexitie.
Conducting the filmed interview will be Ellen McFadzen of One Step Borders, who will then edit the video footage
and post it on One Step Borders’ YouTube channel the following week.
“I've been reaching out to various local figures and organisations in the hope that by sharing these conversations,
we can highlight where problems are and set about making the necessary changes, Ellen told the selkirkrfc.com website
this week.
“I'm delighted to have Ruaraidh on board with it, and I'm looking forward to our meeting later this week!”
The main topics under discussion will be -
What obstacles he thinks young people face in accessing mental health support and the importance of timely intervention.
Empowering communities to ensure they have what they need to support each other and themselves.
The importance of having and encouraging conversations about mental health in the 'rugby club' community.
His intentions as MHO and what he hopes to achieve in his new role.
“If anyone has any questions for myself, One Step Borders, Ruaraidh or about mental health in general, then could
they please send them to me and we shall answer them as best we can,” said Ellen.
“All submissions are kept anonymous and you can set them directly to the One Step Borders FB page, DM or email
me at ellen@onestepborders.info. Questions should be submitted by 7pm on Wednesday, 24th March.”
The Selkirk Rugby Club website will publish the link to the video interview between Ellen and Ruaraidh as soon
as it becomes available.
SRU’S MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
INITIATIVE WELCOMED BY SELKIRK’S MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER
WITH summer and more normal times on the horizon, Selkirk Rugby Club is making preparations for a return to rugby.
One of the club’s main focuses is on the mental health and wellbeing of the Selkirk players, club members and local
community.
Earlier this year, Dr Ruaraidh MacKessack-Leitch was appointed as Selkirk Rugby Club’s Mental Health Officer to
support the club with this endeavour.
This emphasis on mental health and wellbeing is shared by the Scottish Rugby Union, who have recently developed
their own e-Learning course which is free for everyone to access.
This week, Ruaraidh spoke to the selkirkrfc.com website about his thoughts on the SRU’s latest initiative
“I’m delighted to see this fantastic new resource released by the SRU,” said Ruaraidh. “It comes at a time where
many people across the country are having trouble with their mental health.
“The lockdown - with changes to jobs, reduced social contact and isolation – has led to many people suffering.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we must all focus on ensuring that everyone is given the wherewithal and the support
to bounce back strongly. I would encourage everyone to look through the module if they can.”
Meanwhile Ruaraidh is currently developing links with local charities, support organisations and other rugby clubs
in a wider effort to boost mental health locally. This has seen him and club officials take part in neurodiversity
talks hosted by the Harris Trust.
If everything goes to plan, in the near future there might also be some face-to-face training for members of the
club on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
As always, if you have any ideas, questions or concerns please feel free to email Ruaraidh at mho@selkirkrfc.com
*
EX-SKIPPER SCOOPS DEVELOPMENT
CLUB PRIZE DRAW FOR FEBRUARY
THE latest winner of the Selkirk RFC Development
Club’s February draw is Scott Tomlinson (pictured). Scott has received a cheque for £100 from development
club secretary George Thomson.
Scott’s family has always had strong ties with Philiphaugh. Scott’s father Paul was president of Selkirk Rugby
Club from 1997-1999, having captained the club in season 1982-83. Scott himself skippered the club’s 1st XV in
season 2003-2004.
Anyone wishing to join Selkirk RFC’s Development Club as one of its members is asked to contact development club
secretary George Thomson by e-mailing him at auldlachie@hotmail.com
SELKIRK RFC’S BOARD MEMBERS GIVE
BACKING TO AMATEUR STATUS PROPOSAL FOR PREMIERSHIP CLUBS
MEMBERS of Selkirk’s Board have agreed that the
club would like all Premiership clubs to move to amateur status, in line with all National League clubs, in season
2021/2022.
The Board feels that this is a sustainable position take as it will not put an excessive financial burden on the
club in the coming years. The SRU has set up a working party to provide recommendations for the SRU Council and
Board. This working party is currently consulting all Premiership and National 1 Clubs.
Meanwhile in order to keep its members and supporters up-to-date with day-to-day activity at the club, the Board
has released the following detailed update:
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******
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*********
2019/2020
TENNENT’S PREMIERSHIP
P
W
L
D
Pts
Marr RFC
16
14
1
1
69
Currie Chieftains
17
13
4
0
67
Hawick
16
12
3
1
60
SELKIRK
18
9
7
2
49
Aberdeen Grammar
18
8
10
0
39
Jed-Forest
18
6
12
0
36
GHA
18
6
12
0
34
Musselburgh
18
5
11
2
34
Glasgow Hawks
17
5
12
0
32
Edinburgh Accies
16
4
10
2
27
*****************************************
BOOKERS BORDER
LEAGUE (Pool ‘B’)
P
W
L
D
Pts
SELKIRK
3
2
1
0
11
Hawick
1
1
0
0
4
Peebles
1
0
1
0
1
Kelso
1
0
1
0
0
*****************************************
TENNENT’S RESERVE
LEAGUE EAST 1
P
W
L
D
Pts
Hawick Force
16
15
1
0
77
Musselburgh 2nds
16
12
4
0
63
Stew/Mel. 2nds
18
10
8
0
60
SELKIRK ‘A’
17
11
5
1
60
Edin. Accies 2nds
16
7
8
1
53
Heriot's Blues 2nds
15
7
7
1
45
Biggar 2nds
16
7
9
0
44
Currie Chieftains ‘A’
16
5
11
0
38
Boroughmuir 2A
16
3
10
3
33
Jed-Forest ‘A’
16
1
15
0
15
Sponsors
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PHILIPHAUGH SUITE IDEAL FOR ANY
SOCIAL EVENT . . .
LOOKING to celebrate in style? Selkirk Rugby Club’s
Philiphaugh Function Suite offers free room hire… and more! Photos can be projected on the suite’s big screen
via our personalised photo projection package. If you would like to book an event don't hesitate to get in touch
by e-mail SRFC at bookings@selkirkrfc.com
.… AND A GREAT VENUE FOR WEDDINGS!
The Philiphaugh Function Suite at Selkirk Rugby Football Club is available to hire for weddings and receptions.
Affordable and competitive rates. . If you would like to book an event don't hesitate to get in touch by e-mail
SRFC at bookings@selkirkrfc.com
email: bookings@selkirkrfc.com
Photos and content of this site are the property of
Selkirk RFC website and photographers named or unnamed. Any material from this website should not be copied or
redistributed without the owner's prior written permission. Thank you. (Copyright 2000-2017)
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