Stewartry
Stewartry
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Alistair Ansbro is one
of three brothers including
Oliver and Joe who all
grew up in the local area
around Castle Douglas.
He recently spoke to
Rugby Club Magazine
about his family’s long and
positive association with
Stewartry RFC, saying
“I started off playing for
Stewartry myself in their
mini rugby section and
not long after that was
followed into the sport by
my younger brother Joe.”
Stewartry
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Stewartry RFC is a club with a proud history and celebrates its 50th
anniversary in 2020. With this in mind Rugby Club Magazine recently
caught up with the Sirens team Head Coach David Thomson to find
out more.
Involvement
David told us, “The club is my
childhood and local club. I played at
the club as a young fella up until I
played for the 1st 15. Since calling it
quits on my playing days, I wanted to
stay involved with both the club and
with the sport. I’ve been coaching
the Sirens for two years now.”
The Role
“The most challenging aspect for
us is that we are a smaller team down
30 Issue 88
in the south west of Scotland and we
struggle to get decent numbers for
trainings and game day. With being
a team away from the big centre belt
teams and cities, a lot of girls when
they finish high school go away to
university and we see very little of
them again.
The rewarding aspects are
that even though we struggle for
numbers, the team we do have are
a class act. We are able to compete
with the best in Scotland, and have
been to Murrayfield on a number
of occasions playing for silverware.
Most recently this year, where we
won the Plate.”
Atmosphere
“There is always an awesome
mood and atmosphere at Stewartry.
From senior levels all the way down
to the youngens running around
on a Sunday. With the World Cup
being on, it also adds more buzz
at the club and sees more people
getting involved with the club and
the sport.”
“Joe of course went
on to reach great heights
in the sport playing for
Northampton
Saints,
London Irish and Scotland.
Joe’s favoured position
was centre and he gained
eleven full international
caps before his rugby
career ended due to a
serious neck injury at the
age of 26. I continued my
rugby through school and
now that I have returned
to Dumfries & Galloway I
hope to spend some time
around the rugby club.
“The latest addition to the Ansbro’s is Joe’s son George, giving his other son Jackson a little
brother and my son Thomas is two years old and being a big lad for his age you never know we
may have another future Stewartry player in the making.
“My brother Oliver, who runs TAS building supplies, has always been a keen supporter of local
sport and over the years has helped out with sponsoring the club. It’s great to see the lads have
got off to such a good start this season and it would be fantastic to see the club climb up the
leagues in future seasons.
“As principle shirt sponsors TAS Building supplies, all the staff, myself, Oliver and Joe would
like to congratulate everyone at Stewartry Rugby Club on being recognised for their great service
and contribution to local sport and wish them all the very best of future success as they approach
their 50th anniversary!”
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