University of St Andrews RFC

Scottish rugby union club, based in Fife

Rugby team

University of St Andrews

Full name| University of Saint Andrews Rugby Football Club
Union| Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)| Saints
Founded| 1858; 166 years ago (1858)
Ground(s)| University Park,
St. Andrews, Fife
President| Chris Reekie
Coach(es)| David Morris
Captain(s)|  Men: Brodie Wells
Women: Moa Komiya
League(s)|  Men: BUCS Premier 2 North
Women: BUCS Scottish 1A

Team kit

The University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club is an affiliated member of the University of St Andrews Athletic Union in Fife, Scotland. The club runs four men's and two women's teams, which play in the university leagues.

## History

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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.

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 2 North. In 2007, the 2nd XV were Scottish University Cup champions and currently play in BUCS Scottish Division 2A. In 2022, the 3rd XV won BUCS Scottish 4A, 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.

In the 2021-22 season, the club were named Scottish University Sport Club of the Year after the men's 1st, 2nd and 3rd XVs all won their respective leagues. Notably the men's 1st XV also secured promotion to BUCS Premier 2 North and are currently on a two-game win streak in the Scottish Varsity Match against Edinburgh University.

## Sevens

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The club run the St. Andrews University Sevens tournament[1] held annually every April. This is the largest student run sevens event in the country.

## Notable former players

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### Men

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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. This means that St Andrews has produced more Scotland internationalists than any other Scottish university, bar Edinburgh.[2]

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

* Robert Munro;[3]
* Alfred Clunies-Ross;[3] and
* J. S. Thomson.[3]

Other subsequent international players include:

* Peter Anton
* David Bell
* Kim Elgie, capped for Scotland, and also for South Africa at cricket.[4]
* Cameron Glasgow
* C. C. P. Hill/Colin Hill
* Damian Hopley represented England 1993 - 1995
* Rab Bruce Lockhart
* Jon Petrie
* Hamish Scott
* Ian Swan
* Alex Thomson
* David Whyte
* J. S. Wilson

### Women

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#### Scotland

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The following former St. Andrews University RFC players have represented Scotland at senior international level.[5]

* Annabel Sergeant

* Christianne Fahey

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## Honours

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### Men

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* The Scottish Varsity
* Champions (7): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2024
* St. Andrews University Sevens[1]
* Champions (1): 1942
* Waid Academy F.P. Sevens[6]
* Champions (2): 1992, 1995
* Midlands District Sevens[7]
* Champions (5): 1929, 1954, 1958, 1963, 1965

## References

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1. ^ a b "St. Andrews University Sevens". 7 June 2019.
2. ^ Jones, p126
3. ^ a b c Marshall, p144
4. ^ Godwin, p135
5. ^ "Royal Bank of Scotland to sponsor Scottish Varsity match". Scottish Rugby News. 3 August 2015.
6. ^ "Waid Academy F.P. Sevens". 7 June 2019.
7. ^ "Midlands District Sevens". 7 June 2019.

Sources

* 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)

## External links

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* Rugby at University of St Andrews
* Saints Rugby on Facebook
* Saints Rugby on Twitter

* v
* t
* e

Scottish Rugby Union Caledonia Championships 2021–22

Caledonia Region Division 1|

* Aberdeen Wanderers RFC
* Blairgowrie RFC
* Caithness
* Dunfermline RFC
* Ellon RFC
* Garioch RFC
* Glenrothes RFC
* Grangemouth Stags
* Hillfoots RFC
* Orkney RFC

Caledonia Midlands Division 2|

* Alloa RFC
* Carnoustie HSFP
* Dundee University Medics
* Harris Academicals RFC
* Kinross RFC
* Madras Rugby
* Panmure

Caledonia North Division 2|

* Aberdeenshire RFC
* Banff RFC
* Mackie Academy RFC
* Moray RFC
* North Police Scotland RFC
* Ross Sutherland RFC

Caledonia Midlands Division 3|

* Bannockburn RFC
* Crieff and Strathearn RFC
* Dundee Morgan
* Montrose and District RFC
* Rosyth Sharks
* Waid Academy F.P.

Caledonia North Division 3|

* Aberdeen University RFC
* Huntly RFC
* Kinloss RFC
* RAF Lossiemouth RFC
* Shetland RFC
* Stornoway RFC

Caledonia Midlands Division 4|

* Aberfeldy RFC
* Arbroath RFC
* Bo'ness RFC
* Stobswell RFC

Caledonia North Division 4|

* Aberdeen Taexali
* Aberdeen University Medics RFC
* Deeside RFC
* Dyce RFC
* Fraserburgh RFC
* Inverness Craig Dunain RFC
* Peterhead RFC
* Turriff RFC

Caledonia Midlands Non-League|

* Abertay University RFC
* Dundee University RFC
* Stirling University RFC
* University of St Andrews RFC

Caledonia North Non-League|

* Robert Gordon University RFC

* v
* t
* e

Scottish Rugby Union Women's Leagues 2021–22

Scottish Women's Premiership|

* Heriot Blues Women
* Watsonians
* Corstorphine RFC
* Stirling County RFC
* Cartha Queens Park RFC
* Hillhead Jordanhill RFC

Scottish Women's National One|

* West of Scotland
* Kelso RFC
* Howe of Fife RFC
* Ayr RFC
* Garioch RFC
* Broughton RFC
* Annan RFC
* Stewartry RFC

Scottish Women's West One|

* Oban Lorne RFC
* Greenock Wanderers RFC
* Wigtownshire RFC
* Hamilton RFC
* Bishopton RFC
* Glasgow University RFC
* Ardrossan Academicals RFC
* Biggar RFC

Scottish Women's Midlands & East One|

* Grangemouth Stagettes
* Liberton RFC
* Strathmore RFC
* Dundee Valkyries
* Dunfermline RFC
* Kirkcaldy RFC
* Lismore RFC
* Livingston RFC
* Lady Dicks

Scottish Women's Non-League|

* Aberdeen University RFC
* Abertay University RFC
* Dundee University RFC
* Edinburgh Napier University RFC
* Edinburgh University RFC
* Glasgow Caledonian University RFC
* Heriot-Watt University RFC
* Queen Margaret University RFC
* Robert Gordon University RFC
* Stirling University RFC
* Strathclyde University RFC
* University of St Andrews RFC
* UWS RFC

* v
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* e

Rugby union in Fife

Governing body|

* Midlands District Rugby Union

National League teams|

* Kirkcaldy RFC
* Howe of Fife RFC

Regional Leagues teams|

* Dunfermline RFC
* Glenrothes RFC
* Madras
* Rosyth Sharks
* Waid Academy FPRFC

College and university teams|

* University of St Andrews RFC
* Fife College RFC

Tournaments|

* Glenrothes Sevens
* Howe of Fife Sevens
* Kirkcaldy Sevens
* St. Andrews University Sevens
* Waid Academy F.P. Sevens

Defunct clubs|

* Dalgety Bay
* Police Scotland Fife
* West Fife
* Cupar RFC
* Newport RFC

Stadiums and related articles|

* Beveridge Park
* Carleton Park
* Duffus Park
* McKane Park
* Rosyth Park
* Station Park
* University Park
* Waid Park

* v
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* e

Founding Clubs of the SRU

Founding Clubs|

* Glasgow Academicals
* Edinburgh Academical
* West of Scotland
* University of St Andrews
* Royal HSFP
* Merchistonians
* Edinburgh University
* Glasgow University

* v
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* e

St Andrews

Theatres and
public houses|

* Barron Theatre
* Byre Theatre
* New Picture House
* Jigger Inn

Golf|

* St Andrews Links
* Old Course
* Swilcan Bridge
* Golf clubs
* The New Golf Club
* The Royal and Ancient Golf Club
* St Andrews Golf Club
* St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club
* The St Rule Club
* The R&A
* Ladies' Golf Union
* Forgan of St Andrews
* Tom Morris Golf Shop

Hotels and
apartment buildings|

* Hamilton Grand
* Old Course Hotel
* Rufflets Hotel
* Fairmont St Andrews resort hotel
* Rusacks Hotel

Monuments|

* St Andrews Sarcophagus

Museums|

* R&A World Golf Museum
* Museum of the University of St Andrews
* St Andrews Castle
* St Andrews Cathedral
* St Andrews Museum

Religious houses,
past and present|

* All Saints
* Blackfriars
* Greyfriars
* Holy Trinity Church
* Hospital of St Leonard
* Hospital of St Nicholas
* St Andrews Cathedral Priory
* St Leonard's Chapel
* St Mary's Collegiate Church
* St Salvator's Chapel

Schools|

* Madras College
* St Leonards School
* New Park School

University colleges,
past and present|

* University
* St Leonard's College
* St Mary's College
* The Pedagogy
* St Salvator's College
* United College

Miscellaneous|

* Botanic Garden
* Council ward
* Siege of St Andrews Castle
* St Andrews Town Hall
* Strathtyrum

Other sport|

* Madras College FP RFC
* St Andrews United F.C.
* University of St Andrews RFC

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