The Scottish Rugby Union have insisted the future of the game in the Borders is bright on the first anniversary of the decision to disband the region's professional team.

Twelve months to the day since the SRU board decided to shut down the Magners League side, a 10th development officer, Nick Wichary, has been appointed to the Borders.

He will assist with the ongoing effort to promote participation at grass-roots club and schools level.

Brian Renwick, the SRU's regional development manager covering the Borders, insists the region's strong rugby traditions will be preserved and encouraged.

Renwick said: "Rugby has always been one of the major sports in the Borders and with this development team now complete we can work hard to strive to ensure that this will continue to be the case."

SRU head of community rugby Colin Thomson said: "The network of development officers across Scotland is fundamental to Scottish Rugby ensuring that rugby is open and available to all, while providing the foundations for our strategic targets of a 38% increase in young people playing rugby, and a total playing population of 38,000 by 2012."

The SRU opted to close down the Borders team due to the club's low crowds and limited potential for growth. Various rescue bids failed to save Borders, leaving Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh as Scotland's only professional clubs.

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