ONE of Scotland's leading online sports stores is expanding its Peebles headquarters - and creating more than a dozen jobs.

Sportswise (Borders) Ltd, which trades as Rugbystore.co.uk, secured a major new partnership with international sports retailer Intersport.

The new contract will see Sportswise develop a new website to become the exclusive host of Intersport’s online presence in the UK.

The deal allows the online retail specialist to increase its product range to include football, swimming, running and fitness on behalf of Intersport.

Fraser Patterson, managing director of Rugbystore, told the Peeblesshire News: “This is a very exciting time for everyone in the business.

"The expansion of our Peebles base and the amazing new facilities housed there will both continue to strengthen our relationship with Intersport and allow us to continue to build our reputation as providers of the highest quality sports merchandise in the UK and around the world.”

The expansion has allowed the Peebles firm to expand its art design, online marketing and photography departments, as well as increasing its stock warehouse capacity.

Sportswise will look to recruit around 15 new staff members, ranging from customer service and logistics, to marketing and graphic design.

The headquarters’ development has been funded by a £500,000 facility from Bank of Scotland and £82,000 grant funding from Scottish Enterprise.

Tom Foley, general manager at Intersport UK added: “Intersport UK has found the perfect partner in Sportswise.

"It is a long serving member of the Intersport group, with strong links to the business, reflected by Fraser Patterson’s seat on Intersport’s board of directors.

“With Sportwise’s in-house expertise and its ability to scale up its operations, we are very confident that this new partnership will continue to grow and prosper over the coming years."

Sportswise (Borders) Ltd was originally established in 1974 as a high-street retailer.

In 1997, it changed direction and is now the largest independent online trader of rugby clothing and equipment in the world, shipping merchandise to countries including Australia, USA, New Zealand, Latvia, Canada, Europe and Russia.

Ewan Davidson from Scottish Enterprise said: “We work intensively with ambitious Scottish companies, like Sportswise (Borders) Ltd, to help them realise their full growth potential. Sportwise’s strong leadership and strategic direction have seen the company grow from strength to strength and I am pleased, that with our help, the company continues to expand and create 15 new jobs in the process.

“It’s also great to see our Calvary Business Park development continuing to support business growth in the area, helping to create much welcomed new investment and jobs for the Scottish Borders.”