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Rugby Community Support Porty

Portobello are fighting back from the fire which ripped through their clubhouse at the end of last season thanks to the help of other clubs and the rugby community in general.

The East League Division Two champions' Cavalry Park clubhouse was left burnt-out after a fire on Sunday, May 27. Within days, a large number of well wishers had logged onto the club's official website and posted their messages of support - including Scotland legend Scott Hastings and former New Zealand Captain Sean Fitzpatrick.

First XV Captain and Webmaster Ed Henderson said: I heard about the fire on the Monday morning via text message and I couldn't believe it.

Thankfully the structure of the building remained intact and the support we have had has been great through the summer. A few clubs have volunteered to play us in friendlies, others have wanted to donate strips to us and we are currently sifting through the various ideas with the plan to have a fund-raising event by October.

The damage caused will have an effect on post-match gatherings, while the clubhouse being inactive is also a worry for Portobello Hornets mini and midi sections, who play on a Sunday.

The club are in talks with the SRU and opposition clubs regarding the possibility of switching some home fixtures to away venues in the first half of the season while the damage is repaired.

One thing is for sure, the club will not let the fire overshadow its return to the Scottish Hydro Electric East League Division One.

We played some great stuff last season in winning Division Two unbeaten, and we feel we can compete at the next level.

I got a shiver down my spine when we won the trophy at Earlston and it was a brilliant feeling returning to Cavalry Park where over 100 people were waiting for us, Ed, whose father Eddie coaches the side said.

It was all a far cry from just three years ago when the Edinburgh club had to drop out of National League Division Four because the club could not fulfil their fixtures.

Then they were struggling to get 15 players on the park on a Saturday, but now they have enough players to make three sides plus an over-35s outfit and 31-year-old Henderson hopes more players will arrive at training this month.

We might see some new faces at training after our title win and let's hope we can continue playing fun, competitive rugby this season.