Aberdeenshire RFC

Aberdeenshire Mens RFC

Full name	Aberdeenshire Rugby Football Club
Nickname(s)	Shire
Founded	1875
Location	Woodside, Aberdeen, Scotland
Ground(s)	Woodside Sports Complex "The Fortress"
President	Michael MacLugash
Coach(es)	Paul Harrow, Connor MacFarlane
Captain(s)	Paul Harrow and Chris Ballantyne
League(s)	Caledonia Region League Division 1 (Men's) Caledonia North One (Women's)
3rd of 16
Team kit
Official website
www.aberdeenshirerfc.com
Current season

Aberdeenshire RFC is a rugby union club based in Woodside, Aberdeen, Scotland. The Men's team currently plays in Caledonia Region League Division 1. The Women's team currently plays in Caledonia North Regional League Division 1.

History

Aberdeenshire RFC was founded in 1875. ^[1]

Aberdeenshire were early pioneers of Youth Rugby in the North East of Scotland. They were the first club in the area to establish a youth rugby team, in the 1960s. ^[2]

The club has played in local and national level league structures, and has had up to three men's teams competing. The highest league position they have reached is National Two. They experienced a drop down in the leagues in 2017 following some managerial and financial difficulties. They have since recovered; so much so that they were nominated for Aberdeen Sports Club of the year in 2019, after winning the treble that season. This consisted of; winning the league, winning the regional bowl competition, and winning the national bowl competition with the final match held at Murrayfield. ^[2]

Sides

The club runs a men's side, a women's side known as Aberdeenshire Quines, a mixed touch rugby side known as Aberdeenshire Leopards ^[3] and a youth team.

Aberdeenshire Sevens

The club runs the Aberdeenshire Sevens tournament. Sides play for the W. Wilson Robertson Trophy. ^[4]

Honours

• Caledonia North League Three ^[5]
  • Champions (1): 2018–19
• Caledonia North Bowl Competition ^[5]
  • Champions (1): 2018–19
• National Bowl Competition ^[5]
  • Champions (1): 2018–19
• Dundee HSFP Sevens ^[6]
  • Champions (1): 1906
• Orkney Sevens ^[7]
  • Champions (1): 1975
• Caithness Sevens ^[8]
  • Champions (1): 1977
• Garioch Sevens ^[9]
  • Champions (3): 1978, 1991, 2016
• Banff Sevens ^[10]
  • Champions (2): 1999, 2015

Notable former players

Scotland

The following former Aberdeenshire players have represented Scotland at international level.

Ken Scotland

Gregor Sharp

North and Midlands

The following former Aberdeenshire players have represented North and Midlands at provincial level.

Ken Scotland

I. L. Robb [11]

J. E. Snape [12]

Former rugby commentator Bill McLaren also played for the club. ^[1]

References

1. "Roving Reporter: Aberdeenshire's resurgence is good news for North East rugby". The Offside Line. 25 February 2019.
2. Cryle, Ryan. "Aberdeen's Sports Awards 2019: Revitalised city rugby club nominated for prize". Eveningexpress.co.uk.
3. "Leopards Touch Rugby Club". Leopardstouch.org.
4. "Aberdeenshire Sevens". Scottishsevens.sport.blog. 9 July 2021.
5. Nixon, Jack. "Sense of what might have been for Aberdeenshire RFC with season declared null and void". Eveningexpress.co.uk.
6. "Dundee HSFP Sevens". Scottishsevens.sport.blog. 9 June 2019.
7. "Orkney Sevens". Scottishsevens.sport.blog. 8 June 2019.
8. "Caithness Sevens". Scottishsevens.sport.blog. 7 June 2019.
9. "Garioch Sevens". Scottishsevens.sport.blog. 7 June 2019.
10. "Banff Sevens". Scottishsevens.sport.blog. 29 June 2019.
11. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". News.google.com.
12. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.