The decade 2010 – 2019 started so brightly. League re-organisation re-assigned Burgh to the new West Regional League, division two which they promptly won in 2012, adding both the West Regional Bowl and National Bowl (an unforgettable day through at Murrayfield) for a fantastic Triple.
But like so many other clubs around Scotland now, going by first-hand accounts, player numbers began to dwindle as we raced through the mid-Teens, first at training then, it seemed, even for Game Day. Our 2nd XV – which had survived until about 2014 or so – fell first, though a recent initiative to resurrect a social side (The Grousebeaters, of course!) is gathering pace this season which is excellent.
Burgh were relegated into West League division two in 2017-18 and we are currently fighting a rear-guard action to maintain that status as we approach the start of yet another decade.
It will be Helensburgh Rugby Club’s sixth decade in what has been a colourful, rich and rewarding history, spanning all the way back to those fine gentlemen who used to meet in Dino’s Radio Café along the seafront and wonder: “Anyone fancy starting up a rugby club?"