Live Borders Museums & Exhibitions Press Release

Hawick RFC 150th Anniversary Exhibition Opening

A new exhibition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Hawick Rugby club opens on Friday 1 March in Hawick Museum.

Taking place alongside the highly successful Bill McLaren Centenary Exhibition the Hawick show traces the origins of the club to the present day.

A series of intriguing displays, showing some hitherto unseen artefacts, will provide visitors with a glimpse behind the scenes to show how much commitment from so many people goes into making the club such an important local, national and international institution.

Hawick Rugby Club president, Ian Landles said, “the Bill McLaren Centenary Exhibition has been a hard act to follow but the design team has put together an exciting and creative series of exhibits. I can promise that visitors will have a nostalgic, informative and fun time”.

He continued, “there have been so many highlights during our 150th anniversary. This exhibition is a very special event in a memorable year. What is on show is as much about the culture, heritage and community of Hawick as it is about rugby”.

Murray Watson, co-editor of Voices of Hawick Rugby, who helped curate the Hawick 150 Exhibition said, “there is lots to see including: a re-creation of the old changing room under the stand, a collection of historic jerseys, International honours, the chance for visitors to vote for their favourite player, a specially commissioned artistic triptych celebrating Great Greens. And, for younger visitors, there is a Subbuteo-style table rugby game with Hawick playing a rest of the world XV whose miniature players are wearing a jersey from each of the world’s top fifteen teams”.

“There is also a fascinating collection of programmes, a tribute to players who died in the two world wars, a celebration of Hawick’s pool of international referees, plus video footage of famous games - there is even grainy footage of a training session in 1929 - plus lots more to surprise and delight”.

Shona Sinclair, the Live Borders curator at the Hawick Museum said, “the Bill McLaren Centenary Exhibition succeeded in attracting visitors from far and wide helping us break attendance records in 2023. We anticipate the Hawick RFC 150 Exhibition will be equally popular and plan to extend its opening period beyond the summer until we close for winter in November”.

The exhibition, which is free, has received generous support from Clyde Wind Farm SSE Renewables, Live Borders, Scottish Borders Council Community Fund and Scottish Rugby.

Lindsay Dougan from main sponsor Clyde Wind Farm said, “following the outstanding success of the Bill McLaren Centenary Exhibition we are delighted to help fund the Hawick leg of this memorable double bill. Hawick Rugby Club is without question one of the most successful rugby clubs in the land. From what I have seen of the new exhibition I can say that the design team behind the displays is also right up there at the top of the league”.

Contact:              Murray Watson 07950 495402 and murraywatson70@icloud.com

                              Shona Sinclair 07773909726 and ssinclair@liveborders1.org.uk