Minerva Builders aiming to cement growing reputation by looking to an international future
Published on 29 May 2014

Gregor Hollerin
An idea hatched over a few drinks could, three years on, lead to a group of Scottish rugby players taking on the world.

Lamenting the short club sevens season in 2011, the then Glasgow Hawks trio of Louis Kinsey, Gavin Macdonald and Peter Jericevich decided to form an invitational sevens side to give them a chance to carry on playing rugby into the summer.

They dubbed themselves the Minerva Builders as, at the time, they were working as tradesmen and living on Minerva Way in Glasgow's Finnieston.

In 2014, the team, now made up of players from clubs such as Ayr, Glasgow Hawks, Aberdeen Grammar and GHA, had the perfect season, winning every tournament they entered, and indeed, every game they played. Their victories in the events staged at Glasgow University, Braidholm and St Andrews this time round made it seven tournament victories in total.

Now, just three years since their inception, the team are planning for next season, when they travel to England, Ireland and beyond to compete with the world's best invitational sides.

"We have become quite a formidable force in this country and the time is right to broaden our horizons," said Peter Jericevich, a Scotland sevens cap. "Various invitational sides travel all over the world and have a global reputation; there is no reason why we can't be one of them. We have the right people involved. We're all friends but the team has a serious edge and we go out to win."

Among the players to pull on the jersey are several Scotland sevens caps including Aberdeen Grammar's Steven Aitken and the former Glasgow Hawks captain Ross Miller. Ian Noble, a former Zimbabwe internationalist, has also featured. The team in purple have had a significant boost from the men in pink, as Ayr's Ross Curle, Kerr and Craig Gossman and Dean Kelbrick have all earned several 'caps' for the Builders.

"The Builders are more than just a social side. We see it as a breeding ground for the talent of the future as well," added Jericevich, who moved to GHA from Ayr this off-season.

"Look at players like Haddon Macpherson [of Glasgow Hawks] and Callum Templeton [Ayr], who joined us this year and played in our Braidholm victory. Both have the potential to kick on and be capped at sevens in the future. Playing competitive rugby in a team with so much experience can only help them develop and increase their chance of being noticed."

This article was posted on 29-May-2014, 06:30 by Hugh Barrow.