Selkirk’s U14s are eyeing up a trip to Klagenfurt to play in a sevens competition at the Wörthersee Stadium as part of the United World Games, a youth multi-sport event involving thousands of athletes from around the world.
The club has launched a fundraising campaign to help get the squad to the contest in 2026.
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The bid received a major boost after the Harris Trust, a charity set up following the death of 19-year-old Borderer and former Selkirk Rhinos player Harris Macdonell, donated £4,000 towards the cost of flights and £500 for kits.
Ex-Scotland international Greig Laidlaw also sent a message of support to the youngsters.
Kieran Westlake, rugby development officer at Selkirk, said: “We haven’t done a foreign tour in Selkirk for a number of years and we feel we have an amazing bunch of boys who will represent Selkirk and Scotland with pride and show everyone what talent a small community can produce.
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“The players can expect four days of action, emotions and unforgettable moments at the sports tournament and various side events, as well as the rugby being live-streamed through their website for everyone back home to watch the boys play.”
The games are among the most popular youth sporting events in Europe and aim to ‘unite the world through sports’.
Charlie Dawson, whose son Peter plays for the U14s, said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, particularly for some boys who have never travelled outside the Scottish Borders.
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“The team will be representing east Scotland and the whole of the Scottish Borders.”
The boys’ playing strips will feature the Harris Trust logo, with the rugby club describing the charity’s donation as “unbelievably generous”.
A Harris Trust spokesperson said it was an opportunity for the squad to not only play rugby abroad, “but to develop friendships and have lifelong memories”.
“We know how important these peer relationships are and hope that every boy feels part of it,” they added.