[2] In October 1872, members of the cricket club decided that in order to keep fit over the winter they should begin playing football.
This was against Langholm RFC; a club heavily influenced by the sons of Tweed manufacturers who were educated across the Scottish border in England.
[4][5] and these were adopted by almost all of Scotland's early rugby union clubs, including Hawick and Wilton.
[3] Langholm RFC however then played the English variant of rugby union which had crossed the border from Carlisle.
Hawick RFC moved to the nearby Volunteer Park and played in green colours.