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Inverness Picts hold first training session as they look to build on the future


By Andrew Henderson

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Inverness’s newest rugby club held their first training session last Saturday.

The Inverness Picts, the Highlands’ first inclusive club geared towards the LGBT+ community and their allies, persevered through some heavy showers at Bught Park to get the ball rolling.

Inverness Picts held their first ever training session at Bught Park.
Inverness Picts held their first ever training session at Bught Park.

Support came from two other inclusive rugby clubs around Scotland, with two members of the Dunfermline Knights travelling north to take part in the session.

Aberdeen Taexali, who will play Inverness Craig Dunain and Highland’s third team in Caledonia North Four next season, also sent two members along – first team captain Rob Clunas, from Inverness, and head coach Grant Skene who took the session.

The rest were Highlanders who were getting their first introduction to playing rugby.

Although only a couple of people could make it along, that is not unusual for an upstart, and there were plenty more who were interested but could not attend, so Skene was happy with how things went for day one.

“When we first started at Aberdeen Taexali, there were four people at the first session, so you have to start from that and build,” Skene said.

“As long as there are people coming down, that’s the most important thing, and then you can get more people involved as you go along.

“There were a couple of new people, so we went through a lot of the basics and they took to it really well.

“I’m really happy with how the session went, we’re starting out from scratch and going from there.”

Inclusive club Inverness Picts are joining the rugby ranks in the Highlands.
Inclusive club Inverness Picts are joining the rugby ranks in the Highlands.

Having seen Taexali’s impact in Aberdeen, Skene is confident the Picts will benefit the LGBT+ community in and around Inverness – and maybe even lead to a Scotland-wide competition.

“We’ve seen how much of a positive thing it can be, it has created a bit of a hub for everyone to come along and it has become a central point,” he added.

“If we can replicate that in Inverness, I think it will be great. It will be really positive for the LGBT+ community in the Highlands.

“Inclusive rugby has become one of the fastest growing sports in Scotland.

“It’s great to see all the different regions of Scotland being covered, and hopefully we will get to a stage where we are able to play each team in proper tournaments. That would be cool.”


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