Bottom of the Ruck

28/05/2026

Play rugby, get free hugs.

28/05/2026

An absolutely stunning picture of

That sky!

27/05/2026

Digging through my collection of rugby artifacts and came across this newsletter from September 1986. We think that we have it hard with all of the technology at our fingertips. Imagine manually typing out a newsletter!?!

I really like how the formatting came out. Just starting to play with their editing app. There are a bunch of other old club programs in my collection that I may have to dig out to create more of these.

27/05/2026

True story. It was a long road back to the pitch. Thankful for my physical therapist and the months of excruciating sessions that helped make it all possible.

27/05/2026

Sweep the sheds.

27/05/2026

As announced earlier this year, Walkerburn Rugby Club will cease operations following its final Walkerburn 7s tournament this coming weekend. Located in the Scottish Borders, the club was founded in 1884. That is more than 140 years of history. A place that has carried generations of stories, shared laughter, and pride.

This is the kind of post no one ever wants to read or write about. Here at Bottom of the Ruck we try to maintain a positive view and promote feel good stories, but we also cannot put our head in the sand. At times we need to show the stark realities of grassroots rugby.

Sadly, this is a story that feels familiar. Walkerburn RFC are not alone as others have suffered the same fate and unfortunately they likely won’t be the last. The changing landscape of the world, recreational pursuits, and culture presents challenges that we all face in clubland.

We wish them all the best this weekend with a grand final call. A proper send off for the club and those that put their hearts into it. The club may be shutting its doors, but the memories will last.

26/05/2026

The season is over and it is time for a break. Rest is good, but don't let it derail your club's recruiting efforts during the off-season/summer. Follow the link to check out the Bottom of the Ruck Guide to Off-Season Recruiting.

Avoiding Recruiting Complacency During the Rugby Off-Season

26/05/2026

Rugby simply wouldn't happen without all of the dedicated volunteers throughout Clubland. Thank you to everyone that gives their time and effort so that others can play.

26/05/2026

There's no wrong time to get involved (or back involved) with rugby. Everyone has different timelines and ways of finding their way to the sport. Don't let a late start scare you away from giving it a try. There are easy entry points along the rugby participation spectrum for players or non-players.

25/05/2026

Could have used some extra time at the club this past weekend.