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Throughout the year UR7s will be running competitions around the major tournaments across the world. The first of these was the Darwin Hottest 7s, with the team who had the most active profile on UR7s.com winning a special exclusive written feature! And the winner for Darwin… Gordon Highlanders from Down Under!

Robin Heymann

'I'm Georgie McHugh of the Gordon RU
I'm fond of a lassie and drappie or two
One day when out walking I chanced to see
A bonnie wee lass wi' a glint in her ee.

Says I to the lassie will ye walk for a while
I'll buy ye a bonnet and we'll do it in style,
My kilt is the tartan of the Gordon RU
She looked at me shyly and said, Is that true?'
(Extract from Gordon Rugby Club Song)

You don’t have to be Columbo to detect the rich Scottish heritage emanating from New South Wales rugby powerhouse Gordon RFC. With the origins of rugby sevens in bonnie Scotland perhaps it’s no surprise to see The Highlanders, a club renowned for their cheeky regard for entertaining rugby, having some genuine success in the shortened version of the game.

Established in 1927 they became known as ‘The Highlanders’, derived from a regiment of the British army that recruited principally from Aberdeen in the north-east of Scotland. Located in Sydney's North Shore and playing in the Metropolitan Junior Competitions, a dynasty was starting to emerge at the Roseville Chase Oval with various Premierships won.

“North Shore is traditionally the strongest area of rugby in the whole of Australia, the talent in this area is just awesome,” said the much-respected Head Coach, Lachlan Fear. Coach Fear especially loves his sevens and one senses he relishes seeing his boys take on Australia’s best.

“I’m a massive fan of sevens. There is just nowhere to hide and the players need all the skills to compete”.

Although not all of them are eligible for every tournament , Gordon currently boasts around seven sevens internationals who have represented Australia, Samoa and Fiji.

With such experience it is perhaps no surprise that in recent times the North Sydney outfit has taken home their fair share of silverware and headlines. Last October they went undefeated at the Mudgee 7s wrecking havoc with 42-0 and 52-14 Quarter and Semi Final wins respectively. New South Wales rivals Parramatta were the next up to the guillotine and were soundly trounced 40-0. Further success has prevailed at one of Australia’s oldest competitions – the Kiama 7s. They dazzled in 2007 in convincingly taking home the trophy with their whitewash only breached once and were runners up last year.

With exception to the Australian leg of the IRB World Sevens Series in Adelaide, Darwin’s Hottest 7s is the jewel in the crown on the circuit down under. The quality of the field sees international sides such as Samoa, Fiji, and Australia put teams out under the guise of specialist elite level teams.

“We love going there, it is such a unique environment. It’s also important for us to help support the local indigenous community that is based in Darwin,” said Fear.

With the Gordon boys challenging the crème de la crème in the ‘croc’ competition it looked a tough ask on paper. Day 1 bought a mixed bag with a disappointing loss to another Sydney rugby institution, Randwick, and perhaps a predictable defeat to a Waisale Serevi inspired Drifters side, the defending champions. Yet the Highlanders showed grit, courage, and skill in booking a quarter-final with arguably the best Invitational global Sevens team around – ULR Samurai.

Facing a team full littered with international class such as Australian Sevens guru Tim Walsh and IRB all-time leading points scorer Ben Gollings was always going to be a tough ask for the Highlanders. Going down three tries to one was by no means an embarrassment against such quality and was a palpable reminder of the club’s strength.

“We were against international sides, and other top invitational teams from around the world, and to perform and do the best out of any other club was a big deal for us, I’m very proud,” said Fear.

I suppose the obvious move in checking the credibility of any major rugby club is to march straight up to the honors board checking for international recognition. You won’t be let down at Gordon – Stirling Mortlock, Andrew Blades, Rob Andrew, Mike Hercus are some of the stellar names of recent years to be pumped out from the production line. Former Wallaby Captains, Bob Davidson and Peter Sullivan, are other notable alumni etched into the club's history.

So which of today’s class should we be looking out for? The latest potential superstar has already been and gone. Fijian born Sisa Waqa caused a massive stir at the Highlanders, which has seen him being pinched by NRL Rugby League giants Sydney Roosters. Very much in the Greg Inglis and Israel Folau mould, ticking the feet, speed, and size boxes with aplomb.

“He was outstanding, a real sensation. He never seemed to drop the ball! It was just a shame we couldn’t get him on a sevens pitch,” said Fear.

With the club constantly possessing some of the best 19-23 year old talent in the region it is perhaps no surprise that the big NRL and Super 14 boys are constantly knocking on Fear’s door. Although this must be frustrating at times, Fear’s morale never flags, with a constant steam of North Shore youngsters chomping at the bit to throw on the club jersey.

Lachie Mitchell is another potential star in the making and fits the bill as an all-round sevens operator.

“He’s extremely fit, has speed, tackles everything, a workhorse – everything you want in sevens”.

So where does the talent pool come from? The Gordon Rugby Programme (GRP) is unique in Club Rugby in Australia and Gordon believe it will set a precedent for other clubs. Selected players from an Under 15 to elite level, the players receive tactical training, strength and conditioning advice, as well as qualitative and quantitative feedback in the core skill areas of the game from a quality coaching brigade.

Perhaps with Australia struggling in the IRB Sevens World Series, the national team could do no worse then getting down to the Highlanders' paddock to check out Fear’s talent show. The quilts, bagpipes and songs may not play as prominent a part as they used to but by the look of things the Gordon RFC trophy cabinet won’t become naked in a hurry.