Next rugby season’s fixture list out now, with Kelso the top flight’s only Borderers kicking off at home

Co-head coaches Nikki Walker and Bruce McNeil’s Poynder Park outfit – the region’s top dogs in the league last time round, finishing fifth of ten on 47 points from 18 fixtures – kick off their upcoming campaign on Saturday, August 29, by hosting newly-promoted Edinburgh Academical, last term’s Arnold Clark National League Division 1 champions.

That will be the two teams’ first meeting since a 36-17 premiership win for the Borderers at the capital’s Raeburn Place in February last year, following a 39-18 defeat at home in October 2024’s reverse fixture, as Accies were one of three clubs relegated at the end of that season, the others being Marr and Musselburgh.

Melrose and Hawick both begin next term on the road, at Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians and Edinburgh’s Heriot’s respectively, and, like Accies’ visit to Kelso, they’re both 3pm kick-offs.

Last season’s corresponding fixtures yielded defeats by 13-10 for co-head coaches Scott Wight and Iain Chisholm’s Melrose at Braidholm last August and 40-19 for opposite number Graham Hogg’s Greens at the capital’s Goldenacre playing fields in February this year.

Round two of next season – on Saturday, September 5 – brings with it the top flight’s first Borders derby of the new term and it sees Hawick hosting Kelso, with kick-off at Mansfield Park at 3pm.

Melrose are at home to Glasgow Hawks at the Greenyards at the same time.

Last season’s matching games ended in victories by 27-8 for Hawick in November and 13-5 for Melrose in October.

The next of the coming season’s six derbies, Melrose hosting Hawick, will be played on Saturday, October 17, and there’s another one seven days later taking the Greenyards outfit to Kelso, both at 3pm.

One more follows before the year is out and it sees Kelso at home to Hawick on Saturday, December 5, also at 3pm.

Hawick host Melrose for 2027’s first derby on Saturday, January 23, and there’s one more before next season wraps up, taking Kelso to Melrose on Saturday, January 30, both kicking off at 3pm.

Next season is scheduled to wind up on Saturday, February 27, with Kelso at home to Edinburgh’s Watsonians, Hawick hosting Accies and Melrose away to defending champions Ayr, all also at 3pm.

Selkirk’s relegation at the end of last season takes National 1’s complement of Borderers up to three, like the division above.

New head coach Derek O’Riordan’s Souters begin their first second-tier season since 2019 in Edinburgh against Boroughmuir on August 29, with kick-off at 3pm.

Fellow Borderers Jed-Forest and Gala are at home to Musselburgh and away to Glasgow Academicals at the same time respectively.

The division’s first derby of next term, Selkirk hosting head coach Michael Harshaw’s Jed, arrives seven days later and the next, Ewen Robbie’s Gala playing the Souters at home, is on October 17, both kicking off at 3pm too.

Selkirk last played Jed in August 2024, beating them 31-21 away, but they’ve met the Maroons more recently, getting the better of them by 24-14 last August, also on the road, both those fixtures being in the Border League.

Peebles, the region’s only representatives in National 2, begin next term away to Howe of Fife and that’s a 3pm kick-off as well.

Speculation that Arnold Clark East Region League Division 3 was to be scrapped has proved to be unfounded and it returns on September 5, with a trip to Edinburgh’s Trinity Academicals for Duns among its opening fixtures, kick-off being at 3pm.

A division up, Hawick Linden host a derby against Earlston and Hawick Harlequins are at home to Dalkeith at the same time.

All three east divisions will be made up of eight teams.

Announcing next term’s fixture schedule, Vicky Cox, Scottish Rugby’s head of competitions and compliance, said: “While many clubs have just brought the past season to a close, the release of fixtures is an exciting milestone and offers an opportunity to reflect on the dedication of those who make rugby happen.

“The 2026-27 season will build on the positive momentum of the past year, including the continued growth of women’s and girls’ rugby and the ongoing development of competitions across the game.

“The programme, shaped by engagement with clubs and stakeholders, provides a range of competitive opportunities for players of all ages and ambitions while supporting development and progression throughout the rugby pathway.”

Next season’s full fixture list can be found at https://fixtures.scottishrugby.org/club-rugby