Rugby’s Southern Knights say they can’t wait for Super6 to restart after 15-month lay-off

That resumption of the semi-professional competition on Friday, July 30, after 15 months off due to the coronavirus pandemic, will give the Borders side the chance to try to improve on their fourth-placed finish first time round.

Scottish Rugby put out a fixture list for next season this week and it hands the Borderers an away-day for their first game, at Stirling County on Saturday, July 31, at 3pm.

Their opening-day opponents were one place in the table and nine points behind the Melrose-based side, on 18, when last season was abandoned in March last year as the UK went into lockdown for the first time after the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic here.

All six teams – the other four being Ayrshire Bulls and Edinburgh’s Boroughmuir Bears, Heriot’s and Watsonians – had played 10 regular season fixtures at that point, with Watsonians ending up on top with 37 points from eight wins and two losses, three ahead of second-placed Heriot’s Rugby and ten ahead of head coach Rob Chrystie’s side.

The Greenyards team are eager to get going again after their long lay-off, with a spokesperson saying: “We can’t wait to head to Bridgehaugh Park on July 31.”

Scottish Rugby’s director of high performance, Jim Mallinder, added: “We are delighted that the Fosroc Super6 will be restarting at the end of July after an understandable but frustrating pause due to Covid.

“The Super6 is the bridge for players to make their way from the club to the professional game, as we’ve seen by the number who have already progressed through to Edinburgh, Glasgow and now the Scotland summer tour squad.

“The tournament is being played this season in its originally intended slot from July through to October with the hope better conditions will provide an opportunity for teams to play to a high standard and continue to develop the players and coaches involved.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the competition get under way and would like to wish everyone involved well in the months ahead and extend my thanks for all their hard work to prepare for the second season in difficult circumstances.”

The Knights’ second game is away to Heriot’s on Sunday, August 8, at 1.30pm, and their first game on home turf follows on Saturday, August 14, versus Ayrshire Bulls at 3pm.

Next up, on Sunday, August 22, is a visit from Boroughmuir Bears at 1.30pm, followed by a trip to Watsonians on Friday, August 27, at 7.30pm.

September sees them away to Boroughmuir Bears at 1.30pm on Sunday the 12th and at home to Watsonians on Friday the 17th at 7.30pm and Heriot’s on Friday the 24th at 7.30pm.October begins with a journey to Ayrshire Bulls on Saturday the 2nd at 5pm and that’s followed by a visit from Stirling County on Saturday the 9th at 5pm.

Following that, all six teams play one more game on Friday, October 15, with their opponents being determined by their place in the table at that point.