Tynedale 1stXV 38 - 50 Heriots 1st XV
No doubt both sides had absentees on summer holidays etc, but this game was a terrific encounter. Some of the counter rucking by Heriots was outstanding and they had the edge in the backs. A terrific pre-season encounter.
Hinckley next week.

Chris Leslie

Matchday Hospitality is now on sale.
Whether you’re entertaining clients, rewarding colleagues or enjoying a day with friends, we’d love to welcome you.
See you on 12th September when the 1stXV entertain our local rivals Darlington Mowden Park in a big local derby.
CLICK HERE for further details

TYNEDALE v HERIOTS
Saturday 15th August 2026
TYNEDALE RAIDERS V HERIOTS 2ND XV (2PM)
TYNEDALE 1STXV V HERIOTS 1STXV (3.30PM)

WELCOME TO TYNEDALE PARK
This Saturday we welcome all the players, officials and supporter of Heriots Rugby Club who join us in our first pre-season matches of the brand new 2026-2027 season – our 150th!
While Tynedale entertain our friends from Edinburgh our Colts head back over the border to compete in the Gala 7's (1.30pm).

It is very appropriate that, in Tynedale RFC’s 150th year, the visitors, albeit in a pre-season friendly, for the club’s first home match should be the famous Heriots Rugby Club from North Edinburgh. For, in Heriots’ Centenary Season in 1990 Tynedale were honoured to be the only English rugby club on the Heriot fixture list.

The Tynedale 1st XV have played against Heriots, (known originally as Heriots FP), many times, both at Tynedale Park and at Goldenacre.
In the early days, on Saturday 7th January 1989 Tyne won 28-13 at home. That 1990 away fixture ended in a draw.

There followed a fixture on 5th Jan 1991 won by Tyne, whose team included Gary Taylor and Graham Yates – now Vice-Presidents of the club, Craig Johnston, now in charge of Bar and Grounds, and Richard Parker and Martin White, whose sons represented the Tynedale 1stXV for some years. In that 1991 game Tyne also had Jamie Paton at fly-half – well known in Edinburgh as a former player for Edinburgh Accies.

Heriots FP were missing captain Kenny Milne, his brother David Milne (two of the ‘Three Bear’ Milne brothers) and fly-half Cameron Glasgow who were all playing in a Scottish trial match at Murrayfield.

In the next match at Corbridge, on Saturday 12th. September 1992, Tynedale won comfortably by 46-5. Two new players for Tyne were John Fletcher and Chris Leslie. John’s son Ollie hooked briefly for Tynedale before moving to Newcastle Red Bulls in 2021, while his two younger sons Archie and Ted are now part of the current Tynedale 1stXV squad and of course Chris Leslie’s son Josh now plays for the Tynedale first fifteen.

Recently the two clubs have played 1st XV and Raider fixtures pre-season, alternatively at home and away. Last year on 16th August 2025 Heriots won 39-26 at their Goldenacre ground.

Over the years Heriots have produced many wonderful players. Some of the better known are Andy Irvine (51 caps for Scotland), Ken Scotland (27 caps), Iain Milne (44), Simon Taylor (56), Kenny Milne (39) and John Beattie (25). All were British and Irish Lions.

HERIOTS WEBSITE
https://heriotsrugbyclub.co.uk/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee:
AR1:
AR2:

WEATHER FORECAST
Sunny Intervals with a gentle westerly breeze – 20 degrees

FURTHER PRE-SEASON MATCHES
SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST
Colts at Gala 7's (1.30pm)
FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST
Tynedale Colts v Morpeth Colts (7pm)
SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST
Hinckley 1stXV v Tynedale 1stXV
WEDNESDAY 26TH AUGUST
Tynedale Colts v Wallsend Colts (7pm)
SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST
Novos v Tynedale Raiders (3pm)

EARLY SEASON LEAGUE FIXTURES
FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER
Tyndale Colts v Carlisle Colts (7pm) - Border League
SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
Sheffield Tigers v Tynedale 1stXV (3pm) - National 2 North
SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
Tynedale Colts v Gateshead -Surridge League
SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
Tynedale 1stXV v Darlington MP (3pm) - National2 North
Tynedale Raiders v Gateshead II (3pm) - has to be re-scheduled
WB Rockcliff Vikings v Tynedale Hadrians (3pm) - CaNDY 1 League
Seghill 1stXV v Tynedale Centurions (3pm) - CaNDY2N League
Melrose Wasps v Tynedale Colts (3pm) -Border League
SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Ryton Colts v Tynedale Colts - Surridge League

SELECTED SQUADS