Spotlight on success: Borders Clan

This week, we're delighted to shine a spotlight on one of our grant recipients: Borders Clan.

Borders Clan are a mixed ability team from the Scottish Borders, part of Trust Rugby International - founded to work towards a society that values diversity, equality and inclusivity through rugby.

Having attempted their first ever team trip beyond Scotland last year, and being pipped at the final post by a last minute event cancellation, in May of this year the Borders Clan finally managed to experience a rugby tour in Cork that will be remembered for years to come!

Thanks to the generous supporters of the Foundation, we were able to provide a grant that helped to fund some key aspects of the trip, including transport in and around Cork for players with a wide range of support needs, ensuring the whole group could travel together, fostering the camaraderie that's central to a rugby tour. The grant also covered tour polo shirts, helping to build team identity and pride, and subsidised players who might not have been able to otherwise participate.

For the team, this was their first substantial trip beyond a day trip. Planning and fundraising for the tour became part of the team’s developmental journey, allowing all interested players to join regardless of economic circumstances. Volunteer 'Enabler' and coach Neil Clark said, “Everybody was treated the same. In this group, many of them feel they are treated differently all the time. This trip let them travel as equals.”

One particularly inspiring story from the tour highlights the profound personal impact of this trip. A young player, who hadn't left his house for four years during COVID and had never travelled outside the UK, was able to obtain his first passport and experience travelling abroad. Through the Borders Clan and the Foundation’s support, he not only participated in the tour but also gained confidence to regularly play rugby and attend the gym upon return. A transformative step in his personal and social development.

For the Borders Clan, receiving the BMF grant was more than financial assistance, its recognition of the value of their work. As Neil reflected, “We quietly go about our volunteer work, doing everything we can to help get players on the pitch. The volunteers supply the time and the energy, The Bill McLaren Foundation provides the fuel to help us get our players to places and achieve things that most would not believe would be possible for players with physical and learning disabilities such as ours.”

Teams like the Borders Clan play a crucial role to tackle assumptions and provide opportunities that may not exist otherwise. By supporting programs that open doors, foster inclusion, and build confidence, Foundation grants can make life-changing experiences possible for individuals who might otherwise be excluded.

The Cork tour is testament to what can be achieved when dedication and community come together. It's a story of opportunity, equality, and the transformative power of rugby.

To see the team in action playing a game against their hosts at Musgrave Park [during half time of Munster v Treviso] - follow this link. What an amazing experience for the teams - just listen to the reception from the crowd as they run out!