Queen Margaret University RFC

Queen Margaret University RFC

Full name	Queen Margaret University Rugby Football Club
Location	Musselburgh, Scotland
Ground(s)	Inch Park, Edinburgh
Captain(s)	Quinn Porter and Imogen Rose
League(s)	Men:  BUCS Scottish men's tier 4  Women:  BUCS Scottish women's tier 2
2023/24	Men:  Did not compete  Women:  Did not compete
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.facebook.com/QMUwomensrugby/
Union website
www.facebook.com/QMUmensRugby/

Queen Margaret University RFC is a rugby union club based in Musselburgh, Scotland. The club operates a men's team ^[1] and a women's team. ^[2] Both currently play in the university leagues.

History

Men’s Rugby

The 2015/16 Scottish Conference 5A was won in spectacular fashion. Starting off the campaign with a tough 29-20 loss to Dundee and Angus College, the Queen Margaret Men's team bounced back and recorded 3 straight wins. Playing catch-up with Strathclyde 3XV for the majority of the season, QMU secured the league title in dramatic fashion; beating Strathclyde 3XV 35-0 at home and securing the title with a 10-10 draw at home to St Andrews 3XV in the final round of games. With both Queen Margaret and Strathclyde tied at 23 league table points each, QMU took 1st place on account of Points difference. ^[3]

Pos	Team	Games
		Pld	W	D	L	PD	TP
1	Queen Margaret	6	4	1	1	+91	23
2	Strathclyde	6	5	0	1	+44	23
3	Glasgow	6	4	0	2	+46	20
4	St Andrews	6	3	1	2	+60	19
5	West of Scotland	6	1	0	5	-145	5
6	Dundee and Angus	6	2	0	4	–1	0
7	GCU	6	1	0	5	–95	-5

The most notable season in recent years for the men’s side would be the 2018/19 season, when they went unbeaten in the Scottish Conference 4A league. Capping off such an achievement with a 43-7 away win to the 4XV of Edinburgh University RFC. ^[4]

The Men's side train at 6pm-8pm on Mondays and 4pm-6pm on Wednesdays

Women’s Rugby

The QMU Women's team were established in 2016, when they played a series of friendly matches across the academic year.

Their first ever league games were in the 2017/18 season, when they joined the SRU leagues. Shortly before leaving and joining the BUCS leagues for the 2018/19 season. ^[5]

In May 2021, the women's side journeyed by foot from Musselburgh to Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh carrying a medical stretcher to raise funds for the Heads for Change charity; and to raise awareness of concussion in rugby union. ^[6]

The women's side train at 6.45pm to 8.15pm on Mondays at Inch Park. ^[7]

Varsity

Every year towards the end of the season, both sides compete in varsity matches against Edinburgh Napier University RFC. ^[8]

The reason why they play against Napier is due to the similar historic roots that the universities have. Both Institutions started off as colleges that specialised in certain skills, before merging and expanding with several other colleges around Edinburgh across the 20th century. Varsity is used as a way to celebrate the origins of both universities and promote local rivalry in all sports played within their doors. ^{[9] [10]}

Honours

Men

• Scottish Conference 4A ^[1]
  • Champions (2): 2010–11, 2018–19
• Scottish Conference 5A ^[1]
  • Champions (2): 2009–10, 2015–16

Notable former players

Men

Czechia

The following former Queen Margaret University RFC players have represented Czechia at senior international level.

Martin Cimprich [11]

Philippines

The following former Queen Margaret University RFC players have represented the Philippines at senior international level.

Craig Wallace [12]

Women

Ireland

The following former Queen Margaret University RFC players have represented Ireland at senior international level.

Heather O'Brien [13]

Royal Navy

The following former Queen Margaret University RFC players have represented The Royal Navy in senior rugby.

Rowann Sinclair [14]

References

1. "BUCScore - Queen Margaret University Mens 1st Rugby Union Team". BUCS. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
2. "BUCScore - Queen Margaret University Womens 1st Rugby Union Team". BUCS. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
3. "2015-16". BUCS.org.uk.
4. "2018/19 league tables". BUCS.org.uk.
5. "2018/19 league tables Women's Rugby". BUCS.org.uk.
6. "QMU women's rugby vow that 'no-one is left behind' in stretcher carry charity challenge". Scottish Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
7. "Rugby Women's @ QMUSU". www.qmusu.org.uk.
8. "Team Napier vs QMU - Varsity Cup 2020". Napier Students union.
9. "QMU History". QMU.ac.uk.
10. "Our History". Napier.ac.uk.
11. "Cimprich Martin". RDJ Sports.
12. "Philippine Volcanoes to feature in the 2025 Unions Cup". Philippines Rugby.
13. "RWC: Getting To Know Heather O'Brien". Munster Rugby.
14. "Navy Rugby Falls Short but Cross the Whitewash against British Army". Navy Rugby Union.