University of St Andrews RFC

The University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club is an affiliated member of the University of St Andrews Athletic Union in Fife, Scotland. It was founded in 1858, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. In 2008, the club celebrated its sesquicentennial year, marking its 150th anniversary.

University of St Andrews RFC
Full nameUniversity of Saint Andrews Rugby Football Club
UnionRugby Football Union
Nickname(s)Saints
Founded1858 (1858)
Ground(s)University Park,
St. Andrews, Fife
PresidentChris Reekie
Coach(es)Scott Lawson
Captain(s)Alex Hodgnins
League(s)BUCS Premier North B
2017/188th
Team kit
Official website
www.saints-rugby.com

The club is one of the founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and is often quoted as being the birthplace of 'running and passing' rugby, a distinct tactical advancement from the initial 'solo break/kick and chase' tactics which characterised the early years of the game's development.

The club's 1st XV play their home games at University Park, in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) North Premier B. In 2007, the 2nd XV were Scottish University Cup champions and currently play in BUCS Scottish Division 3A. In 2018, the 3rd XV won BUCS Scottish 3A, and a 4th XV was started for the first time.

On 24 March 2012 the 1st XV won the RBS Caledonia Division 2 Midlands title, beating Kinross 75-0 to lift the trophy. They were promoted to Caledonia League 1 three weeks later, beating Moray RFC, Caledonia 2 North Champions, 21-0.

In the 2013-14 season, they won BUCS 1A Scotland unbeaten, winning 9 games from 9. The 1st XV also defeated Edinburgh for the first time at the annual Varsity Match since it has been hosted at London Scottish's ground in Richmond.

In the 2014-15 season, having pulled out of the regional league system, they only competed in BUCS leagues. The 1st XV won BUCS 1A Scotland again, and are on a four game win-streak against Edinburgh in The Scottish Varsity.[1]

Notable players

St Andrews has produced 21 (Men's) international players: 19 for Scotland and 1 each for England and Ireland. Four of which have become British and Irish Lions: Tyrone Howe, Duncan Macrae, Chris Rea and Robert Stevenson. St Andrews has also produced two women's international players for Scotland.[2] This means that St Andrews has produced more Scotland internationalists than any other Scottish university, bar Edinburgh.[3]

Notably, St Andrews provided three players for the first ever rugby international:

Other subsequent international players include:

References
  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 ISBN 1-905326-24-6)
  • Godwin, Terry Complete Who's Who of International Rugby (Cassell, 1987, ISBN 0-7137-1838-2)
  • Jones, J.R. Encyclopedia of Rugby Football (Robert Hale, London, 1958)
  • Marshall, Francis, Football; the Rugby union game, (1892) (London Paris Melbourne, Cassell and company, limited)
  • Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh; ISBN 0-904919-84-6)
  1. "Murphy heroics earn St Andrews a Varsity hat-trick". Scottish Rugby. 26 September 2015.
  2. "Royal Bank of Scotland to sponsor Scottish Varsity match". Scottish Rugby News. 3 August 2015.
  3. Jones, p126
  4. Marshall, p144
  5. Godwin, p135
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