Mark Carrick

On Monday we were joined by our 1st XV sponsored club player, Jamie McAughtrie. Fresh from coming on as a replacement hooker in Saturday’s game against Glasgow Hawks, where he scored his first try of the season (and nearly a second!). Jamie joined our morning session alongside another rising Ayr star, Dan Simpson. 

Some of the group were also proudly showing off the brand-new Walking Rugby jerseys, looking sharp as ever.

The chat afterwards over a coffee and filled roll was full of a great deal of laughter. The Walking Rugby group concluded if these two young men worked hard enough at their game, they could almost reach the standard of the group!!

Last Friday, 15 of the Walking Rugby group turned out in the Edinburgh Walking Rugby Festival at Murrayfield.

The Millbrae Shufflers and Ayr Strollers played in the Hive Stadium against teams from Annan, Kelso, Edinburgh Wanderers and Mid Lothian Rugby.

The organisers had said the Festival would be a non-competitive event, everyone was just to enjoy the event and have fun, and that we did! Not only did we have a very enjoyable time, the two Ayr teams won all their games, played 8 won 8, to come out on top!

Come along on a Monday morning at 10.00am to Millbrae, join in the fun and laughter, and don’t make age or ability an excuse!

Important Update Regarding Membership Fees 2025/26

Our ambitious plans to redevelop Millbrae are ongoing, and we have completed phases 1 and 2 of the plan. The impact of the new road and car park has been huge, making Millbrae more accessible for all. It has been great to see all our teams return to Millbrae to train and play, made possible by the new multi-sport, all-weather pitch.

This week, we applied for planning permission for the first part of phase 3, which will see a new 300-square-metre construction housing a large strength and conditioning gym, a golf simulator, and a shop. It also includes a rethink of our changing facilities in the main clubhouse and in the old squash courts.

The redevelopment has been funded by outside sources of income, including the Macdonald Legacy, the SRU, and other grant funding. However, the cost of running the club and facilities comes from income generated by membership fees, sponsorship, events, and the bar/function suite. Over the last number of years, we have seen ever-increasing overheads, including utilities, wages, and maintenance. Insurance premiums, for example, have increased by over 300%.

For the upcoming season, we are investing heavily in our youth section, which we see as the future of our club. Ayr have been accepted into an elite tier at the top of the domestic U18 and U16 structure, consisting of five private schools and three clubs. To meet the challenge, we have created a new post of Youth Rugby Performance Director, and Frazier Climo and his team will oversee the performance of our youth section from U13 to U18. All of this will be under the direction of our new Director of Rugby, Pat MacArthur.

Our physical facilities have been transformed with the development of Millbrae and the purchase of Dam Park. This has been matched by an increase in investment into coaching at all levels. When we compare the cost of membership at Ayr RFC with other clubs, sports, and classes, it is clear that current levels of subscription are unsustainable.

As such, the decision has been made by the Board of Directors to increase the members’ subscriptions for 2025/26 at the following rates at the bottom of this page.

We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we grow our club and capabilities to meet our ambition to excel in modern-day rugby. If you have any concerns or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out: trustees@ayrrugbyclub.co.uk

Brian Williamson
Chairman
Ayr Rugby Football Club Ltd

Our numbers are continuing to grow, and we’re always looking to welcome new male & female participants to join us on Monday mornings at 10.00am, at Millbrae.

Enjoy the Walking Rugby, followed by a bacon roll & a coffee with plenty of chat afterwards.

Some of our current players had never picked up a rugby ball before, while others are returning after many years away from the game, so all skill levels are welcome. The banter is every bit as important as the rugby, and it all adds to the fun!

We’re also delighted to have been invited to take part in the Walking Rugby Festival at Murrayfield on 15th August, where we’ll be playing on the Hive pitch. After finishing runners-up last year, we’re hoping to go one better this time around!

After the creation of the new charity “Ayr Rugby Football Club” Neil Reid was instrumental in setting up the new accountancy regime and helped guide the board through their first charity audit. Due to increased work commitments as a partner at Dains Accountants, Neil has resigned from his position at Ayr Rugby Club.

We are delighted to announce that Andrew McMorland has agreed to join the Board of Directors at Ayr Rugby Club as Finance Director. Andrew has been an accountant for over 35 years and has been a partner at Smith & Wallace for 17 years. Andrew has experience in business management, finance and fundraising and has also been involved in various 3^rd sector organisations including charities, voluntary groups and member led clubs.

Andrew will lead on reviewing the clubs trading position, setting of budgets and assisting with project management. Andrew sees the role as an opportunity to give some of his time and experience back to the local community.

Club Chairman, Brian Williamson, said “Since the inception of the new charity, we have benefitted greatly from the expertise of talented individuals who have been willing to give up their time in favour of our club. I have known Andy for many years and I am excited to see what he will bring to the role. On behalf of the club I would like to thank Neil Reid for his help and advice to date and welcome Andy McMorland onto the board.”

Ayr Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Pat MacArthur as Director of Rugby.

Pat MacArthur began his rugby journey at Ayr, rising through the junior ranks to become a key part of the club’s first-ever Premiership-winning squad in 2009. He earned representative honours for Scotland U18, U19, U20, and the Club XV before signing a full-time contract with Glasgow Warriors. Over the next decade, Pat made 165 appearances for the Warriors and earned full international caps for Scotland during that time.

In the latter stages of his playing career, he transitioned into coaching as a player/coach at Ayr, helping the club to a historic Premiership and Scottish Cup double in 2019. After hanging up his boots, he joined the Ayrshire Bulls coaching staff as a forwards coach under Peter Murchie in the inaugural Super6 season.

In 2021, Pat was promoted to Head Coach of the Ayrshire Bulls and made an immediate impact, leading the side to victory in the first-ever Super6 Championship. His team returned to the final the following year, narrowly missing out in extra time, but bounced back in 2023 by winning the updated Super Series Sprint and reaching yet another final later that year.

In 2024, the final year of the competition, Pat’s Bulls side once again came out on top, winning the Super Series Sprint. Under his leadership, the Bulls became the most successful side in the competition’s history: six competitions, five finals, three titles — making Pat the most successful Super Series Head Coach.

On his appointment, Pat commented:

“I’m stepping into the role off the back of a lot of really good work. The club is in a strong position, both on and off the field. I know a huge amount of effort has gone in already, and I want to build on that. Gordon Kotze put a lot into last season, and I’ll be looking to continue that momentum.

My approach will reflect the values I was brought up with here at Ayr Rugby Club — yes there’s always pressure to perform, but there’s also a real emphasis on creating a pathway for young players, both boys and girls, and making the club an enjoyable place to be, which is a massive part, and a lot of that comes through the rugby that is being played.”

“Having Frazier Climo as our Youth Performance Director and coaching our U18s, alongside Gordon Kotze working with our U16 boys, is massive. These are guys I’ve spent a lot of my life with, and we’ve built strong relationships. That foundation is going to be really valuable as we work closely to develop those teams and strengthen the pathway into senior rugby.”

A key focus for Pat will be ensuring young players have a clear and supported route from youth to senior rugby:

“A big part of what I’m passionate about is the pathway and progression route from junior rugby to senior rugby. I know from personal experience that I wouldn’t have achieved the success that I had without that transition from U18s to the first team. I was lucky to have excellent coaches all the way through, which I’m sure put me in a good position, and I want to make sure today’s players have that same opportunity.

A lot of my focus outside the senior teams will be on coaching the coaches, making sure we’ve got the right people in place and giving them the tools they need to really push the kids on. There’s a massive focus right now on helping players develop in their correct positions. Of course, all young players need strong fundamentals — fitness, handling, passing — but we also want to focus on being able to coach kids position-specific roles from a young age. Forwards should learn how to be a forward in the correct way; backs should be developing their own specialist skills, and that’s something Frazier Climo will play a key role in. The goal is to upskill the coaches so the kids get the best possible start on their path to senior rugby.”

Pat stressed the importance of supporting all areas of the club:

“I’ll be working closely across the club — with the junior sides and all four of our senior teams. We’ve just appointed a new 2nd XV Head Coach, and I’ve spoken to both the 2As and Ladies teams. There’s been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to support the women’s game at Ayr. We want Ayr Ladies to continue growing, pushing for promotion, and we’ll be making sure we’re putting the correct people in those positions, to give the girls that are involved across the club the correct pathway to try and get promotion.”

“Throughout my career, I have experienced a lot of different players, I have worked under a lot of different coaches, and I have seen a lot of different systems and cultures within teams. That’s something I really pushed with the Ayrshire Bulls — building a strong, positive culture — and I think that culture can be seen in how the team operates.

Ayr Rugby Club already has such a strong culture, and a big part of my role is to make sure we’re bringing in the right people, and coaching in the correct way, to continue that enjoyment. At the same time, I’ll be using the experience I’ve gained from different environments to tighten up how we operate, try new ideas, and continue to evolve — without ever losing sight of how we are building Ayr Rugby Club.”

Ayr Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Calder as Commercial Director. The opportunity was created by the resignation of David Beattie, who will still be involved in the club in an advisory capacity.

David Beattie joined the board in March 2024, bringing a wealth of experience from his business and sporting background and has helped the club develop its income streams. David recently moved with his partner to the east coast of Scotland, which has made the role impractical due to logistics.

Brian Calder brings over 42 years of experience in retail, wholesale, and distribution, including owning and running a local Pub Group. Brian was also the owner and Managing Director of Wallace’s Express, CEO of Tennent’s Brewery and a Director of Inverarity Morton.

Brian attended Millbrae from the age of 14 and was captain of Ayr Academy’s 1^st XV. When work allowed, Brian played for Ayr’s senior teams between 1975 and 1986 and was part of the team that won the inaugural Trade Sevens. While owning a local business, Brian was a sponsor and supporter of Ayr Rugby Club and feels that the time has come to give something back to the club and local community.

Ayr RFC Chairman, Brian Williamson, said, “As a club, we are fortunate to have so many members, supporters and sponsors that make us what we are, a successful community-focused sports club with a rich heritage and a great future. Since incorporation, we have been able to build a voluntary Board of Directors with a mix of skills and experience that covers rugby, community, marketing, business, accountancy and commerce. Brian Calder is a great addition to the board and has unrivalled knowledge of business and the licensed trade in Scotland. I would also like to thank David Beattie for his tremendous service to the club over the past 15 months.”

Jamie McAughtrie’s transition from youth to senior rugby has been impressive. From training with the Ayrshire Bulls to gaining senior experience with Glasgow Accies, Jamie is now making his mark at the top of Scottish club rugby. Mark Carrick caught up with him to talk about his development, training with the Bulls, this season’s partnership with Glasgow Accies, and the unforgettable moment of scoring in his Arnold Clark Premiership debut.

In his first year with Ayr U18s, Jamie was given the opportunity to train with the Ayrshire Bulls, an experience that would prove pivotal in his development.

Jamie was involved in the Glasgow and the West regional programme at U16 and U17 level but was dropped when the programme moved to U18s as he was deemed too small for the back row. Despite the setback, Jamie found support from key figures at the club, particularly Robbie Fergusson and Frazier Climo.

“When I was dropped, I messaged Frazier, and he invited me back into training with the Ayrshire Bulls—which was a massive opportunity for me. As soon as I went into that environment, I was so excited, and I learned so much.”

Jamie trained with the Bulls squad for a couple of months during the 2024 Sprint Series, and he didn’t take it for granted. “I got called back in as a hooker and progressed from there, the opportunity then allowed me to get back involved with Scotland U18s and Glasgow Warriors U18s. I don’t think I would’ve had that opportunity if I hadn’t trained with the Bulls. Pat MacArthur took me aside and taught me how to throw as a hooker, and that was such a cool opportunity.”

His hard work paid off, earning him a spot in a Bulls pre-season game against Watsonians, and therefore became the youngest ever Ayrshire Bulls player at just 17 years old. “When I got asked to play, I was astonished—of course, I’ll do it! The wind that day was brutal, which was scary for lineout throws!”

At the beginning of this season, Jamie spoke with Ayr 1st XV head coach Grant Anderson, about the opportunity to join Glasgow Accies as part of a partnership aimed at giving him exposure to high-level senior rugby in National 1. “Immediately my answer was yes, but I was a bit nervous going into it.” Initially playing for the Accies 2nd XV, Jamie quickly transitioned into the 1st XV. “As soon as I went, the environment was so friendly, I didn’t feel unwelcome at all. Kane Greggain, in particular, made me feel very welcome from the beginning. The coaches are Scotland internationals: Ryan Grant, Ruaridh Jackson, Duncan Weir. It’s a really high standard of coaching, and I really enjoyed my time there.”

Jamie credits the experience with improving his game in several ways. “It’s benefited me loads, helped me adapt to a new environment, meet new people, and get consistent game time. My confidence in lineout throwing has improved massively. Coming from U18s, stepping up to senior rugby is a big jump in the set piece.”

Ayr have a number of talented forwards in the squad, particularly at the hooker position with James Malcolm and Alex McGuire, who have been incredibly supportive.“Both have been at Ayr for a long time. James has played with the Warriors, and Alex is one of the most capped Super Series players. The support they’ve given me has been amazing—the little bits of advice and encouragement at training have helped develop my game so much.”

This past weekend, Jamie made his Premiership debut, and it doesn’t get much bigger than Hawick away, the 2023 Premiership champions. “With Alex out injured, Grant gave me a call, saying, ‘Potentially got a big opportunity for you.’ I was wondering if I was going to be in the squad or not. Then at training on Thursday, my nickname was up on the teamsheet, and I was buzzing when I found out.”

Coming off the bench in the second half at Mansfield Park, Jamie made his mark, scoring Ayr’s final try of the game—the one that was celebrated the most by Ayr players, staff, and supporters. “It felt unreal. When I saw Robbie Orr had the offload opportunity, my eyes lit up. As soon as I scored, the whole team surrounded me, which was so so good. A few people told me after that it got the biggest crowd reaction of the game, which is great to hear as a player.”

Through all the challenges and opportunities this season, Jamie remains grateful for the support from Ayr RFC. “I really appreciate how much Ayr stayed connected with me while I was away at Accies. They were always communicating with me, and the coaches were in close contact with each other. That helped me a lot, and made me feel like I was still really involved with the club.”

Next up, Jamie is set to be in action for Scotland U19s this Sunday against the Scotland U18s, a game he never had the chance to play in last year. Beyond that, he’s set to represent Scotland U19s against England and Italy. With the men in pink, the play-offs are looming, and a potential Scottish Cup run awaits, Jamie will be looking to play his part as we aim to end the season on the ultimate high.