Westray Auks - The Origins

The players who took part in Hubert's testimonial celebrations.

Westray Rugby Club has come a long way in a short time. Hubert Haunschmidt, an Austrian chef and violin teacher, is responsible for infecting the inhabitants of Westray with rugby fever. And not only the eligible male part of the population as was witnessed by the large crowd of nearly 70 people of both sexes and a wide range of ages turned who up to spectate at the Westray v Isles Select match to mark the presentation of the new "All Black" strip.

There are 80 males on Westray between the ages of 16 and 40 and over 30 of them have turned out for the rugby team. This is a fantastic statistic for an island with no rugby tradition.

During the summer of 1994 Hubert announced that there would be a rugby training session on the playing field and attempted to cajole people to turn up. It was not quite three men and a dog; the dog did not turn up! After a few desultory throws of the ball it was decided to retire to the Pierowall Hotel. Tactics needed to be talked! This was the first of quite a few tactics talks. Remarkably, by Christmas 1995, Westray was playing a game of rugby against the Orkney 2nd XV. The Seconds regarded this as missionary work, bringing the rugby world to the natives! They were surprised, perhaps not entirely pleasantly, by the determination of the Westray team. It did not take them long to realise that they were in a game. A few of the Westray team had played before but a vast majority had not. What they lacked in skill they made up for in enthusiasm, grit and determination. They also discovered somewhat to their surprise that there were rules to the game of rugby! Westray were well beaten but gave a good account of themselves.

As the years passed, Westray still got thumped, but began to be taken seriously. Westray were playing teams that had some very good players in their ranks. Then the first success, a draw - a magnificent achievement. Eventually, a first victory was achieved. This did a lot for rugby on Westray. It provided tremendous encouragement and an incentive for even more people to become involved. There were now enough players for two teams at the training sessions led by Hubert Haunschmidt and George Rendall, when George was out in Westray on Chiropody business. Georges playing skills were invaluable on Match days and his coaching skills lifted the technique of every player in the team.

In 1997 Orkney Rugby Club gained promotion to the National Leagues. This meant that the 1st XV had weekly rugby, great for them but less rugby for the rest. Internal friendlies dried up and the games with Westray filled a much needed hole. Orkney Rugby Club needed Westray and Westray needed Orkney. It sowed a seed. Why not be involved?

From this small beginning sprung the internal league and this season Westray has notched up its first victory in the league. Mini rugby has also developed on Westray and in the Mainland parishes, each helping the other to grow and develop.

The success of Hubert Haunschmidt's mad idea of introducing rugby to Westray is shown by the fact that Westray players regularily represent the Orkney at 1st XV and at mini rugby level. Even though the great man has moved away fromt he Islands now, the generation of young players he coached will in time add to the pool of Orkney 1st XV players

Westray are proud to be sponsored by:

Orcadia Chartered Accountants

J & W Tait Ltd

R Rendall & Co

Daniel Harcus Construction

The Pierowall Hotel

Mfv Heather K

Seabridge

Lizza Hume