Above. The good shepherd: Jim Telfer has been one of the greatest figures to emerge from the Borders and has stamped his imprint on rugby, as a player, coach and administrator.

Left. The Hawick mechanic: Hugh McLeod was one of the driving forces in the success of Hawick’s fabled ‘Green Machine’ and proved equally formidable throughout his Scotland career. Scran

Right. An underrated figure: Derrick Grant was, for some people, a rugby version of Jock Stein, and he certainly steered his Green juggernaut to unprecedented success in the 1960s and 1970s.

Below. Look at the crowd!: The South were always formidable opponents for touring sides between the 1960s and 1980s and their warriors did themselves proud against South Africa at Netherdale in 1969. The game finished 3–3. Scran

Above. Another year, another title: Hawick’s players celebrate at Mansfield Park, following the clinching of yet another championship title. Scran

Left. Masters at work: the Borders were spoiled for talent when the likes of John Rutherford and Jim Renwick linked up to bewitch, bother and bewilder opponents. Southern Reporter

Centre of excellence: Renwick, who was one of the true greats in the history of Borders rugby, unlocks the English defence at Murrayfield in 1980. Newsquest

Scrum on down: Roy Laidlaw was one of the best in a veritable conveyor belt of scrum-half talent to emerge from the South, forging a memorable partnership with John Rutherford. Getty Images

Left. Substance and style: Rutherford had it all: pace, precision, panache and the precious capacity to weigh up his options in the blink of an eye. Getty Images

Sunny Jim: He could be a hard task master, but Jim Telfer relished success as much as anybody and was understandably delighted when his players clinched the Triple Crown against Ireland in Dublin in 1984 before going on to win the Grand Slam against France at Murrayfield. Getty Images

Campo follies: The great David Campese was unable to prevent the South from recording a famous 9–6 victory over the Australians in 1984. However, the winger and his colleagues gained revenge by thrashing Scotland a week later on their way to securing a Grand Slam.

Diving for cover: The mercurial Roy Laidlaw orchestrates another attack for the South against Edinburgh in 1986. Scran

Iwan another try! Iwan Tukalo, one of Scottish rugby’s finest wingers, powers forward for the South against the Exiles in 1986. Scran

Code-breaker: Alan Tait was one of the few Scots to excel in both rugby codes and straddle the great divide. Here, he scores a try for the South, the year before he moved to Widnes in 1987. Scran

One in a million: Gary Armstrong glittered throughout his Test career and with the Lions, but never lost his innate modesty or pride in his roots, which made him such a popular figure in the Borders. Getty Images

Above. Stanger than fiction: Scotland were the underdogs when they met England in 1990, but Tony Stanger’s famous try, early in the second half, brought them Grand Slam glory at Murrayfield. Press Association

Left. A Melrose maestro: Craig Chalmers, so assured, self-confident and mature for a man of 22, was a prime performer during the Scots’ march to the 1990 Grand Slam.

Shark bite: He hardly requires a caption, such was the distinctive sight of John Jeffrey, the Scotland and Lions flanker, in full flight – here in the thick of the action at the 1991World Cup. Getty Images

Championship material: Alan Tait’s middle name is Victor and the redoubtable centre was one of his country’s leading luminaries during their 1999 Five Nations Championship title win. Fotosport

Gloom in the South: Dark skies hang over the Border Reivers summing up the fortunes of the professional team, who were eventually scrapped by the SRU in 2008. Fotosport

April in Paris: There have been few sweeter afternoons than the 36–22 demolition of France in 1999. The Scots ran in five first-half tries and the ubiquitous Gregor Townsend was in the thick of the drama. Fotosport

The South rise again: After a gap of nearly 15 years, the South, coached by Craig Chalmers, took on and beat Northumberland in front of more than 2000 fans at Netherdale in December 2009. Digitalpic

A 21st century star: Chris Paterson has appeared in four World Cups for his homeland and became the first Scotsman to win 100 international caps, when he played against Wales in Cardiff in 2010. Fotosport

Melrose heaven: The proud Greenyards club have punched well above their weight in the last 20 years and gained another prize by beating Heriot’s in the Scottish Cup final at Murrayfield. Fotosport

History makers: Melrose bequeathed the game of Sevens to the world and proved their ability in the abbreviated pursuit when they triumphed at their own Sevens in the spring of 2011. AB Images Scotland

Gone but never forgotten: Bill McLaren might have died in 2010, but the ‘Voice of Rugby’ has left us with a library’s worth of priceless commentaries and enduring phrases.

On the way up: The beetle-browed Craig Chalmers has successfully made the transition from player to coach and steered Melrose to their first Scottish title for 14 years in 2011. Fotosport