Accies on the Bill McLaren Shield

Cole Imrie holding the Bill McLaren Shield aloft with the team after victory over Musselburgh RFC last Saturday - More images of the game in our Gallery.

Last Saturday was a tremendous day for the Club as we marked our last home game of 2021 with home victories for both the 1st and 2nd XVs and became only the sixth Scottish club to win the right to have our name engraved on the Bill McLaren Shield.

Scottish Rugby introduced the trophy - named after the legendary 'Voice of Rugby' - in 2011 and it was first competed for at Mansfield Park on 3 September 2011. Boroughmuir defeated Hawick that day and the shield has changed hands with many of Scotland club's since (including ourselves briefly holding the trophy in 2012). The rules state that holders must defend the trophy at home for 4 matches after first winning the shield in order get their name engraved on the shield.

Holders must then take the shield on the road to contest in away as well as home matches. Indeed, we secured the shield initially after Hawick had secured their fourth home defense and travelled to Raeburn Place on 25 September 2021. It seems rather fitting that we will now return the favour this weekend as we travel to Mansfield Park for our last Tennent's Premiership fixture of 2021.

Bill McLaren is a rugby legend across Scotland and the world and it is an honour to hold this special tribute to one of Hawick's proudest sons. Our 1st XV will need a huge performance to bring the shield back to Edinburgh and it is a challenge I am sure they will relish.