Partial list of games played against international opposition
These matches are in respect of the 'combined' North side.
For international matches from 1978 onwards, see North and Midlands.
| Full name | North of Scotland District |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1881 |
North of Scotland was a select provincial amateur rugby union team that drew its players mainly from north of Scotland, roughly corresponding from around Aberdeenshire west and northwards.
Confusingly the name North of Scotland was also used for a larger 'combined district' of the North of Scotland District and the Midlands District.
This lack of recognition for the Midlands District, when the 'North of Scotland' name was used for the combined side, was finally ended in 1978. After this the 'combined district' became known as North and Midlands, although the 'North and Midlands' name was used from 1954 in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
The name of North of Scotland was then only used for the Aberdeenshire and Highland district.
A North v Midlands match took place on 17 December 1881.
A North v South trial match was played on 31 December 1881. [1]
The North v South match did come off on 30 December 1882; the North winning by 1 try to nil. [2]
A North v South trial match was arranged for 22 December 1883 but did not come of; but a North team was selected for a match on 29 December 1883. [3]
Another North v South fixture was arranged the following year - but again this match failed to come off. Reports of this deemed the annual fixture a 'fiasco'; the Dundee Courier noting: "Whatever may have kept the majority of the South men and the St. Andrews men of the North from putting in an appearance, it is questionable whether the Union will care about putting on another meeting which to a portion of those interested seems of so little importance." [4]
The North of Scotland District was originally formed as the Scottish Northern Counties Football Union in 1887. [5]
Players were capped by their District; they received a cap. [6]
The North of Scotland side was traditionally made up from Aberdeenshire and Highland players.
In many instances, especially against touring teams, the North of Scotland District side contained Midlands District players. [5]
Trial matches for selection to the North of Scotland District side were initially a Reds versus Colours match. [7]
Later the Aberdeenshire and Highland sides would play trial matches to gain selection to the separate North of Scotland side.
Often, the Midland and North Districts played in a trial match against one another to determine selection for the combined North of Scotland side. [5]
Usually the North of Scotland played as a de facto combined side, selecting players not only from the North of Scotland but also those from Midlands District.
Historically the combined North of Scotland team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the first season of the Scottish Inter-District Championship in 1953-54. [5]
This season was the last domestic season where the Midlands received no recognition for their input into the combined North of Scotland side.
After the start of the Scottish Inter-District Championship in 1953-54 season, the Midlands District complained to the Scottish Rugby Union that the North of Scotland District side which competed in that first championship had several Midlands players in its squad and that the Midlands should receive equal recognition for providing their players to the North of Scotland District team. The SRU agreed and the combined team became formally known as North and Midlands in subsequent seasons for the domestic tournament. [5]
However against touring sides the name North and Midlands was not used for the combined side until 1978.
The new name of North and Midlands was used for the combined side from 1954 season onwards in the domestic Scottish Inter-District Championship. From 1978 till professionalism in 1996 the North and Midlands name was also used against touring sides.
The amateur North and Midlands side evolved into the professional Caledonia Reds side in 1996; one year after rugby union allowed professionalism in 1995. [8]
The 'combined' North side only formally played in the inaugural season of the Scottish Inter-District Championship; the 1953-54 season. In subsequent seasons the 'combined' side was formally named North and Midlands.
| Scottish Inter-District Championship |
| Season | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | BP | Pts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953–54 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 88 | -60 | - | 0 |
These matches are in respect of the 'combined' North side.
For international matches from 1978 onwards, see North and Midlands.
The following is a list of notable non-Scottish international representative former North of Scotland (combined side) players:
Ireland |
Border Reivers, originally known as "Scottish Borders Rugby", and also known as The Borders, were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors.
Glasgow Warriors are a professional rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the United Rugby Championship league and in the European Professional Club Rugby tournaments. In the 2014–15 season they won the Pro12 title and became the first Scottish team to win a major trophy in rugby union's professional era. In 2023-24 they became the first Scottish side to win the United Rugby Championship in its current form. The side is known for its fast, dynamic and attacking style of play, using offloads and quick rucks. Defensively the club prides itself on its 'Fortress Scotstoun' where the club play at home.
The South of Scotland District is a Scottish amateur rugby union team which plays in the amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship. It draws its players from the South of Scotland, mainly the Scottish Borders where there has always been a proud tradition of rugby union. Historically the South team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship. After rugby union became a professional sport in 1995, the team was replaced in 1996 by the new Border Reivers team based in the same geographical area as the South and who wore the same colours as the old team.
Rugby union in Scotland is a popular team sport. Scotland's national side today competes in the annual Six Nations Championship and the Rugby World Cup. The first ever international rugby match was played on 27 March 1871, at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, when Scotland defeated England in front of 4,000 people. Professional clubs compete in the United Rugby Championship, European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup, while the Scottish League Championship exists for over 200 amateur and semi-professional clubs, as does a knock-out competition, the Scottish Cup. The governing body, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU), is one of the ten first-tier member nations of World Rugby.
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Glasgow District is a Scottish amateur rugby union team which plays in the amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship. The side evolved into the professional provincial side Glasgow Warriors when the Scottish Rugby Union embraced professionalism. However the amateur district is still used for the representation of amateur players in the Inter-District Championship; and this amateur championship guides the selection of Scotland Club XV international players.
The Scottish Inter-District Championship is a rugby union competition between regional sides in Scotland. Established in 1953, the tournament went through several formats.
The Welsh–Scottish League was a rugby union league in Scotland and Wales jointly implemented by the Scottish Rugby Union and the Welsh Rugby Union from the 1999–2000 season onwards. It was a precursor to the Celtic League and lasted three seasons, being disbanded after the Celtic League was set up.
North and Midlands - and now known as Caledonia - is a select provincial amateur rugby union team that draws its players mainly from north of Scotland, roughly corresponding from around Stirling northwards.
Edinburgh District is a Scottish amateur rugby union team which plays in the amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship. It draws its players mainly from the Edinburgh area, as well as others from the rest of east central Scotland; roughly corresponding to the old Lothian regional council area. Historically the Edinburgh District team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
Scottish Exiles is a rugby union representative team featuring players selected from the Scottish diaspora. Its players were mainly based in England and as result the team was originally known as the Anglo-Scots. The team competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
Midlands District was a select provincial amateur rugby union team that drew its players mainly from central east Scotland, roughly corresponding from around Stirlingshire, east to Fife and northwards to Perthshire and Angus. Historically the Midlands team played against other Scottish districts, and provided players to the North of Scotland
Scotland's District rugby union sides are provincial representative teams, that in the amateur era capped the best amateur players from their area's club sides to play inter-district matches and matches against touring sides. These districts still survive at amateur level playing in an amateur Inter-District Championship and age-grade. The professional teams Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby remain provincial sides based on the traditional districts.
The 1911–12 Scottish Districts season is a record of all the rugby union matches for Scotland's district teams.
The 1928–29 Scottish Districts season is a record of all the rugby union matches for Scotland's district teams.
West of Scotland District is a select provincial amateur rugby union team that draws its players from the West of Scotland.
East of Scotland District is a select provincial amateur rugby union team that draws its players from the East of Scotland.
John Brown Steven, known as Jock Steven, was a Scottish rugby union player. He was the 107th President of the Scottish Rugby Union.
Norm Suddon was a Scotland international rugby union player. He played as a Prop.
