At last Saturday's match only 15 players, including coach Gary Brannan, were available to play for the senior team. Those players who took to the field last weekend produced a gutsy and determined performance and scored four tries in the process, which was great to see.

It is well known that we are a small community with very few jobs available in the town. Many lads aged over 18 either work away from Langholm, which often includes Saturday working, or go away to university or college and can be lost as players. This greatly reduces the number of potential players for rugby and other sports in the town .

It has been well documented over the last year that Langholm Youth Rugby have gone from strength to strength in encouraging youngsters to play rugby at all age groups.

The objective is to help provide players who can move into the senior side when they reach 18. It will take a couple more years for this plan to reach its full potential and, hopefully, a supply of 18 year olds who are ready to play for the senior team.

The senior side has, over the past three years, developed a lot of links with other Borders and Edinburgh teams who help provide players when they can to bolster the small core of local lads who play for the club and get a team out each week.

Although the club is delighted that there are some players returning to the senior side this season and there are a few new faces, some older players have finally had to hang up their boots so number remain tight

Therefore, there is still an urgent need to increase the number of local players to ensure the club can get a full team out each Saturday of the season.

On behalf of the club I am writing to ask whether there are any potential rugby players aged over 18 who would like to join the senior XV. Whether you have played rugby before and would like to get involved again or whether you are new to rugby and fancy giving it a go, please go along to training at Milntown on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6.45pm where Gary Brannan will get you up and running.

If you know of somebody who may want to play rugby, let them know about this request for players. If anybody has any queries or needs more information please contact myself on 07718 339 533.

Langholm RFC is a great social rugby club, well known for its warm welcome and great hospitality. In five years the club will be 150 years old, making it one of the oldest teams in the country. We want to celebrate this milestone in style but this will depend on player numbers available for this and the next few seasons.

Kenneth Pool

Chairman LRFC management committee