A brief history by J.R.D.Smail Chairman Selkirk R.F.C. ALTHOUGH Selkirk Rugby Club was not officially instituted until 1907, the game of rugby was played in the Royal & Ancient Burgh long before this date. Indeed Selkirk sent a team to the inaugural Melrose Sevens tournament back in 1883 ... and have been trying to win the Ladies Cup ever since! To date, the Selkirk club has produced a total of 12 Scotlandinternationalists, the best known being fly-half John Rutherford, currently Scotland's assistant coach, who gained 42 caps for his country. He also won a test cap for the 1983 British Lions on their tour of New Zealand. John remains fiercely committed to the Selkirk cause, and as well as being a current member of the club's rugby board, is helping to coach Selkirk's 2nd XV this season.Selkirk Rugby Club's finest hour undoubtedly came in season 1952-53, when the 1st XV - captained by that great character George Downie - won its first and only Scottish Club Championship. Selkirk has lifted the Border League title on three occasions (1935, 1938 and 1953). The club's first overseas tour was made to Toronto in 1979, where Donald Phaup's team won all five of its matches. Two further trips have been made to Canada. In the 1990s, Selkirk appeared no fewer than three times at Murrayfield in cup competition finals, winning both the Bowl and the Shield events. The club has also made an appearance in the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham. Finally, Selkirk has recently been making a name for itself on the administration front. Ex-Selkirk captain Bert Duffy is the new Junior Vice-President of the Scottish Rugby Union, while former Selkirk president Norman Douglas represents the Scottish Borders District on the SRU committee. President at Philiphaugh this year is ex-Scotland internationalist Jim Inglis, while the 1st XV is skippered by Cameron Cochrane.