MELROSE RUGBY LAUNCHES ‘CAREERS AROUND THE PITCH’
WINNING ON AND OFF THE PITCH: MELROSE RUGBY ANNOUNCES NEW CAREERS PROGRAMME FOR EARLSTON HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS
The first cohort of Careers Around the Pitch Placement Students
Melrose Rugby establishes “Careers Around the Pitch” programme in partnership with Earlston High School and DYW.
Melrose Rugby is excited to announce the launch of Careers Around the Pitch, an innovative careers programme developed in partnership with Earlston High School (EHS) and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW).
This new initiative will provide S5 and S6 pupils at Earlston High School with the chance to explore the wide range of career opportunities connected to the world of sport—both on and off the pitch. It is designed to inspire young people by opening doors to the many different pathways that contribute to the success of a rugby club, helping them to recognise that sport is not just about what happens on matchday, but also about the people and expertise working behind the scenes.
As part of the NPA: Organising Volunteering Events in Sport, students went through a formal application process, including an interview, for placement opportunities at Melrose Rugby. The successful applicants have begun to gain valuable hands-on experience, mentorship, and industry insight across key areas including:
• Coaching
• Media and communications
• Sports medicine
• Event management and hospitality
• Groundskeeping
• Logistics and operations
The placement programme runs alongside the academic year, and includes the opportunity for the students to plan, prepare and deliver their own events within the club. This practical approach ensures that pupils are not only learning about different roles, but also developing transferable skills such as leadership, organisation, teamwork, resilience and problem-solving.
By immersing themselves in real projects and daily activities, the students will gain a genuine sense of responsibility and achievement, contributing directly to the running of the club.
The experience also allows them to build valuable networks, gain confidence in professional settings, and explore potential career paths they may not previously have considered.
These placements will be fully supported by the Melrose Rugby staff and volunteer team, as well as EHS and DYW staff. Completion of the programme will see students achieve a SCQF Level 6 NPA Award, equivalent to a Higher Grade Pass at C level, giving them a nationally recognised qualification to take forward into further study, apprenticeships, or employment.
Beyond the individual benefits for pupils, Careers Around the Pitch also strengthens ties between Melrose Rugby and the wider community. By investing in young people from the Borders, the Club is helping to nurture the next generation of talent—both within sport and in the local workforce. The initiative highlights the important role that rugby and community clubs can play in education, employability, and regional development, ensuring that opportunities created on the pitch continue to make a lasting impact off it.
Doug Crawford, General Manager – Melrose Rugby: “It’s been brilliant getting the Careers Around the Pitch placement students involved within the Club. They are gradually becoming more familiar with the different roles and have started to contribute to the running of a match-day. From shadowing our medical team to selling programmes, they have been getting hands-on experience across a variety of areas.
The main aim of the programme is to help the pupils take a positive next step in their career pathway, whether that be university, college, an apprenticeship or employment, we want to help them get to where they want to go.”
Amy Hamilton from Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) said: “I am delighted to be partnering with Melrose Rugby and Earlston High School on the Careers Around the Pitch Programme. The DYW Borders’ primary role within the school is to support young people in gaining real-life, work-based experiences as part of their learning, and this programme perfectly aligns with that mission. Through hands-on roles at the rugby club and connections with the local businesses supporting us, students are gaining valuable insight into the wide variety of job roles and skills required to run a successful rugby club—many of which do not require any rugby playing ability.
The students involved are all in S6, entering a key transition period as they begin to consider their plans beyond school.
By participating in Careers Around the Pitch, they will be engaging with professionals who are working in the career areas they may never have considered, therefore broadening their ambitions and awareness of local opportunities.
This is the start of an exciting project, and we look forward to seeing how it progresses.”
Mark Naysmith from Earlston High School said: “We’re really excited to be working alongside Melrose Rugby and DYW Borders on the Careers Around the Pitch Project. As the PE teacher delivering the Level 6 NPA in Organising Volunteering events in Sport course I feel working in collaboration with key partners has allowed us to really bring the course to life. The young people are engaging with professionals and dealing with real life business scenarios. Being involved in the running of Melrose Rugby club makes all the classroom learning become a reality and is supporting these young people develop essential skills they will all require, no matter what their next steps are beyond Earlston High School.”
Careers Around the Pitch: Fill the Stand Day (18.10.25)
‘FILL THE STAND’ - 18th October vs Glasgow Hawks
We are very excited to also announce that the Careers Around the Pitch placement students have been planning and will be delivering the ‘Fill the Stand Day’ event, when the 1st XV play Glasgow Hawks! More on that to come next week…
Find out more
For more information about the programme, or if you would like to support the initiative, please get in touch at gm@melroserugby.org.
