A WEST FIFE rugby club are set to return home for the first time in more than two years this weekend following a devastating fire.

Rosyth Sharks, who have played out of their Harley Street base for almost 30 years, will welcome Murrayfield Wanderers on Saturday 18 months on from an arson attack on its clubhouse.

In March last year, the deliberate blaze - which saw two teenagers charged with wilful fireraising in connection - saw the club fearing for its future amidst already crippling financial pressures caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

Following the incident, an online crowdfunding campaign raised more than £9,000 to help rebuild, repair and update the clubhouse, but the damage to the building saw the team – which play in the Tennent's Caledonia Midlands Division Three – having to play their home fixtures at McKane Park in Dunfermline.

Now, however, they will take to the field on their own pitch in what club president, Ben Morris, has described as a "morale boost".

"Folks around here have been used to seeing the boys play on Saturdays during the season, and it just hasn't been the same since the fire," he said.

"Although it's still not a perfect arrangement, since we can't yet fully use our own facilities, just getting back to play at Harley Street means an awful lot for everyone at Rosyth Sharks, and is a real morale boost for the club."

Until the building, which sustained extensive fire, smoke and water damage, is ready – the club have been working with Fife Council to restore it to a useable state, with Sharks hoping it will be ready by December – visiting teams will use changing facilities at the Parkgate Community Centre.

In addition, the club said that Rosyth's three councillors have expressed support for long-term plans to apply for a Community Asset Transfer, which would put ownership of the club building into local management, and continue to benefit the community.

In the meantime, though, the Sharks are hoping that the town will turn out in force to watch the team on Saturday, which will see Grant Sheridan return to captain them for a second successive season, and club veteran, Mark Love, formally take over as head coach.

"There's no denying the fire had a damaging impact on every aspect of rugby life in Rosyth," Sheridan added.

"But there's resilience here among our players, an attitude that we need to knuckle down, work hard, and have a real fighting spirit to keep the club moving forward and growing."

Kick off at Harley Street is at 1pm.