Reid All About Ayrshire Bulls' First Signing

IT USED to be said, if Yorkshire required a new fast bowler, then they went and whistled down the nearest pit shaft, and the likes of a Fred Trueman would pop up.

Gordon Reid - the number one Ayrshire Bull

Well, if Scotland ever needs a loose-head prop in a hurry, they could do worse than go and stand at the cross roads in Mossblown and one will pass fairly soon. Jock Craig came from “TomatoLane” in Mainholm, a mile or so to your right; Ian McLauchlan sprung from Tarbolton, a slightly-longer touch kick away to your left, while Gordon Reid emerged from a drop-out away, in the village itself.

They are a funny lot in Mossblown – take the word of one whose late mother-in-law was from there. But, they are fiercely loyal, and family comes first, which is why, if he survives the next cuts and does get to play in a second Rugby World Cup, in Japan, in just a few short weeks, Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls) will be how he is designated on the team sheet.

His signing, revealed, along with the name for the Ayr-based Super-6 franchise, at a civic reception at Millbrae, hosted by South Ayrshire Council last night – to celebrate Ayr's League and Cup double last season, is a clear case of someone taking a hit for the team.

In Gordy's case the team is Team Reid: himself, wife Marissa and daughter Emerson. When it became clear, based on video evidence, Dave Rennie didn't fancy Gordy as a player, he had to look elsewhere for employment, and landed at London Irish.

However, a home in Surrey's stock-broker belt didn't cut any ice with Marissa, who, badly homesick, was soon back up the road in Mossblown, leaving Gordy to soldier on with the Exiles.

Now, his contract completed, the Reids are back where they are happiest and although he didn't dispute the £12,000 salary cap in the Super-6 equates to about one month's pay at London Irish – Gordy is a happy bunny again, and looking for the right “day job” to go with his rugby commitments at the Bulls.

And so-too are Ayrshire Bulls, as the smiling Peter Murchie and Glen Tippett made only too clear. At 32, Gordon is in his prime years as a prop, and while will question if signing a current Scotland squad member is what S6 was supposed to be about – just think what he will be able to teach the likes of Ayr's two young props: Ruaridh Sayce and Euan McLaren, at training and in games, and think too what other young props such as Murphy Walker of Stirling County or Struan Cessford of Heriot's might learn while locking horns with Gordy in games.

Gordy is the second former Scotland player to return to the Ayr fold to play out his career – following his old front row colleague Pat McArthur, who is the Bulls' forwards coach. I can see more full-time professionals stepping down to S6 as we move forward, passing-on their knowledge and experience to the next generation.

The roar which greeted Murchie's revelation that Gordy was following Frazier Climo as Ayr's second confirmed signing, with more to be drip-fed into the public domain over the next four to six weeks, spoke volumes – the Millbrae Mob are delighted to see one of their own come home.

And that special one is clearly delighted to have returned.

MILLBRAE was looking its best for Friday's civic reception and Bulls launch. The Ayr club has clearly been busy – adding new sponsors and advertisers keen to get on-board the new Super-6 franchise. They now have a truly exceptional number of advertising hoardings around the ground, and the first team pitch – which will take a pounding this season with Ayrshire Bulls in Super-6, Ayr in Tennent's National League 1, and Ayr Women in the Tennent's Women's Premiership, all playing on it, was looking better than I have ever seen it.

The run-down press box hasn't been upgraded, and probably never will be, since this is likely to be the club's final season at Millbrae, but, that's a small price to pay.

Stuart Fenwick - has faith in his youthful squad

In the course of Friday's soiree, I had a short chat with Stuart Fenwick, who has succeeded Pete Murchie as coach to the Ayr Club's first XV. Along with the other five Super-6 franchise holders' club teams, Stuart's squad will be playing in National League 1, and the new coach is looking forward to what he accepts will be a challenging season.

“We will have a very young squad, average age 19 or 20,” he said. “But, I have coached them through the youth set-up and I know the quality we have in there. It will be a tough campaign, but, I think we can do well in this league.”

And that could be one of the interesting developments in the new-look Scottish adult rugby in this and the following seasons. Ayr, Boroughmuir, Melrose and Stirling County, arguably the most-successful Scottish clubs in terms of youth development – Ayr's youth programme, for instance, has 500 players and 80 coaches involved. The club is looking to offer a seamless rugby ladder from age five right up to semi-pro Super-6 level, bringing through mainly home-grown talent. No wonder they are excited.