London Scottish Football Club is a rugby union club in England. The club is a member of both the Rugby Football Union and the Scottish Rugby Union. The club is currently playing in the second tier of the English rugby union system, Champ Rugby, and share the Athletic Ground with Richmond.

History

Founding

thumb|left|230px|London Scottish team of 1895

In early 1878, three Scottish members of a team called St. Andrew's Rovers FC decided to break away to form their own club for Scots. in The Queen's Head, in Water Lane, Blackfriars, London (universally known as MacKay's Tavern, frequently mis-recorded, as Ned Mackay the jovial Scottish landlord ran the pub), initially played on Blackheath Common, and later at Richmond Athletic Ground in Surrey.

Early history

London Scottish was the first of the "Exiles" rugby clubs to be founded, and the last of the main three – after London Irish and London Welsh – to go "open" in 1996.

Following a mediocre 2016–17 campaign, the club appointed Loughborough Students director of rugby Dave Morris as director of rugby and the club saw a change at the top, with Malcom Offord becoming chairman of the club and Carson Russell as CEO.

Semi-professional club (2021–)

Following a reduction in funding from the RFU, Scottish adopted a semi-professional model from the 2020–21 season, with players and coaches being employed part-time. Following this, in February 2021 it was confirmed that due to funding cuts and the costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic Scottish would not take part in the upcoming season.

Scottish were to leave the Athletic Ground after 127 years, with the first team temporarily relocating to Esher's rugby ground in Hersham and the rest of the club also seeking relocation. However it was later confirmed they would remain at the Athletic Ground for their return to the Championship in the 2021–22 season.

Sevens

London Scottish have been great exponents of rugby sevens, winning the Melrose Sevens three times, Middlesex Sevens seven times and the Rosslyn Park London Floodlit Sevens seven times.

Captains and league position (since 1999–2000)

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Season !! Division !! Captain !! Position

|-

|1999–00 || Non League (London Senior Clubs) || Ewan Kearney || Winners of Merit table

|-

|2000–01 || Herts/Middlesex 1 || Damian Lilley || Runner-up

|-

|2001–02|| London 4 NW ||Steven Wichary || Champions

|-

|2002–03 ||London 3 NW|| Magnus Macdonald || Champions

|-

|2003–04 ||London 2 North||David Watt|| Champions

|-

|2004–05 ||London 1||Karl Hensley|| 4th

|-

|2005–06 ||London 1||Karl Hensley || 3rd

|-

|2006–07 ||London 1||Alex Alesbrook || Champions

|-

|2007–08 ||National Division Three South||Alex Alesbrook || 4th National

|-

|2008–09 ||National Division Three South||Gary Trueman|| Champions

|-

|2009–10 ||National League One||Gary Trueman || 2nd

|-

|2010–11 ||National League One||Ian McInroy || Champions

|-

|2011–12 ||The Championship||Lewis Calder || 9th

|-

|2012–13 ||The Championship|| Mark Bright || 8th

|-

|2013–14 ||The Championship|| Mark Bright || 5th

|-

|2014–15 ||The Championship|| Mark Bright || 3rd

|-

|2015–16 ||The Championship|| Mark Bright || 8th

|-

|2016–17 ||The Championship|| Rory Bartle|| 7th

|-

|2017–18 ||The Championship|| Lewis Wynne|| 11th

|-

|2018–19 ||The Championship|| Mark Bright|| 9th

|-

|2019–20 ||The Championship|| Chris Dean|| 11th

|-

|2020–21 ||Did not compete due to COVID-19 pandemic|| - || -

|-

|2021–22 ||The Championship|| Brian Tuilagi || 11th

|-

|2022–23 ||The Championship|| Joe Rees || 11th

|-

|2023–24 ||The Championship|| || -

|-

|}

Head coach and management (since 1999–2000)

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Season !! Division !! Head coach !! Manager

|-

|1999–00 || Non League || Iain Morrison || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2000–01 || Herts/Middlesex 1 || Brett Cookson || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2001–02|| London 4 NW || Kevin Powderly || Colin Mcintyre

|-

|2002–03 || London 3 NW|| Kevin Powderly || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2003–04 || London 2 North || Rick Scott || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2004–05 || London 1 || Rowly Williams || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2005–06 || London 1 || Rowly Williams || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2006–07 || London 1 || Terry O'Connor || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2007–08 ||National Division Three South|| Terry O'Connor || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2008–09 ||National Division Three South|| Brett Taylor || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2009–10 ||National League One||Brett Taylor || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2010–11 ||National League One|| Simon Amor || Colin McIntyre

|-

|2011–12 ||The Championship||Simon Amor || Ross Macgregor

|-

|2012–13 ||The Championship||Simon Amor || Ross Macgregor

|-

|2013–14 ||The Championship||Simon Amor || Laurence Bruggemann

|}

Overall league statistics

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Season !! Division !! Played!! Won !!Draw !! Lost !! Points <br /> For !! Points <br /> Against !! Points <br /> Diff !! Points!!

|-

| 1987–88 || National League 2 || 11 || 4 || 1 || 6 || 141 || 158 || –17 || 9 || 7th

|-

| 1988–89 || National League 2 || 11 || 3 || 1 || 7 || 146 || 160 || –16 || 7 || 11th

|-

| 1989–90 || National League 3 || 11 || 11 || 0 || 0 || 258 || 92 || 166 || 22 || 1st

|-

| 1990–91 || National League 2 || 12 || 7 || 0 || 5 || 240 || 178 || 62 || 14 || 5th

|-

| 1991–92 || National League 2 || 12 || 11 || 0 || 1|| 304 || 130 || 174 || 22 || 1st

|-

| 1992–93 || Premiership || 12 || 3 || 1 || 8 || 192 || 248 || –56 || 7 || 10th

|-

| 1993–94 || National League 2 || 18 || 6 || 0 || 12 || 232 || 325 || –93 || 12 || 8th

|-

|1999–00 || Non-league || 26 || 19 || 1 || 6 || 775 || 341 || 434 || || 1st

|-

|2000–01 || Herts/Middlesex 1 || 18 || 17 || 0 || 1 || 554 || 118 || 436 || 34 || 2nd

|-

|2001–02|| London 4 NW || 18 || 14 || 0 || 4 || 533 || 214 || 319 || 28 || 1st

|-

|2002–03 ||London 3 NW||18 ||16 ||0 || 2 || 560 || 199 || 361 || 32 || 1st

|-

|2003–04 ||London 2 North||22 ||20 ||1 || 1 || 752 || 277 || 475 || 41 || 1st

|-

|2004–05 ||London 1||22 ||15 ||0 || 7 || 676 || 343 || 333 || 30 || 4th

|-

|2005–06 ||London 1||22 ||16 ||1 || 5 || 840 || 324 || 516 || 33 || 3rd

|-

|2006–07 ||London 1||22 ||20 ||0 || 2 || 997 || 235 || 762 || 40 || 1st

|-

|2007–08 ||National Division Three South||26 ||17 ||0 || 9 || 633 || 410 || 223 || 83 || 4th

|-

|2008–09 ||National Division Three South||26 ||25 ||1 || 0 || 1092 || 328 || 764 || 120 || 1st

|-

|2009–10 ||National League One||30 ||22 ||1 || 7 || 938 || 569 || 369 || 108 || 2nd

|-

|2010–11 ||National League One||30 ||27 ||0 || 3 || 958 || 516 || 442 || 132 || 1st

|-

|2011–12 ||The Championship||22 || 6|| 0|| 16 ||422 || 543 ||−121 ||34 || 9th

|-

|2012–13 ||The Championship||22 || 10|| 0|| 12 ||456 || 610 ||−154 ||45 || 8th

|}

Honours

London Scottish

  • Melrose Sevens champions: 1962, 1965, 2019
  • Hawick Sevens champions: 1965
  • Kelso Sevens champions: 1991
  • Ross Sutherland Sevens champions: 1990
  • Glasgow Academicals Sevens champions: 1979, 1989
  • Haig Trophy Sevens champions: 1980
  • Stirling Sevens champions: 1988
  • Middlesex Sevens champions: 1937, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1991
  • Courage League Division 3 champions: 1989–90
  • Courage League National Division 2 champions: 1991–92
  • London Division 4 North West champions: 2001–02
  • London Division 3 North West champions: 2002–03
  • London Division 2 North champions: 2003–04
  • London Division 1 champions: 2006–07
  • National League 3 South champions: 2008–09
  • National League 1 champions: 2010–11

London Scottish Lions (amateur side)

  • Herts/Middlesex 2 champions: 2018–19

Current standings

Current squad

The London Scottish squad as announced for the 2025–26 season is:

Props

Hookers

Locks

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Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

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Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

Notable former players

Scotland internationalists

The following former London Scottish players have represented Scotland at full international level. London Scottish have produced more than 220 Scottish international players, more than any other club.

  • John Allan
  • John Anderson
  • David Bedell-Sivright
  • John Bell
  • William Berkley
  • Alastair Biggar
  • Mike Biggar
  • Norman Bruce
  • Paul Burnell, their most-capped player, who played 52 matches for Scotland (3 World Cups – 1991, 1995, 1999)
  • George Campbell
  • Mike Campbell-Lamerton
  • Damian Cronin (2 World Cups – 1991, 1995)
  • John Dykes
  • Ronnie Eriksson
  • Max Evans (1 World Cup – 2011)
  • Frank Fasson
  • Pringle Fisher
  • Charles Fleming
  • Iain Fullarton
  • David Gilbert-Smith
  • Colin Gilray
  • Phil Godman
  • Fraser Gore
  • James Gowans
  • Donald Grant
  • John Hart
  • Gavin Hastings (3 World Cups – 1987, 1991, 1995)
  • Sandy Hinshelwood
  • Simon Holmes
  • William Holms
  • John Hunter
  • Doug Keller
  • Ian Kilgour
  • Walter Kerr
  • Iain Laughland
  • Alan Lawson
  • Derrick Lee
  • Kenny Logan (3 World Cups 95, 99, 03)
  • John MacDonald
  • Gregor MacGregor
  • Andrew MacKinnon
  • Bill Maclagan 1st British Lion Captain 1891 (South Africa)
  • David MacMyn (captain of British Lions, Argentina 1927)
  • John Marshall
  • Alastair McHarg – one of the many stalwarts of the club
  • Ernie Michie
  • Iain Morrison (1 World Cup – 1995)
  • Hugh Monteith
  • Alec Elliot Murray
  • Hugh Orr
  • Douglas Schulze
  • Jim Shackleton
  • Ian Smith – joint-record Scotland try scorer with 24 tries
  • Arthur Smith
  • Ken Spence
  • Ronald Stevenson
  • Ian Swan
  • Malcolm Swan
  • Frans ten Bos
  • David Thom
  • Bruce Thomson
  • Rob Wainwright (1 World Cup – 1995)
  • Leonard West
  • Derek White (1 World Cup – 1991)
  • Robert Whitworth
  • Kenneth Wilson
  • Ron Wilson

Wales internationalists

The following former London Scottish players have represented Wales at full international level.

  • Tomas Francis

England internationalists

The following former London Scottish players have represented England at full international level.

  • Elliot Daly

Ireland internationalists

The following former London Scottish players have represented Ireland at full international level.

  • Kieran Treadwell

Other nationalities

  • John Allan
  • Kyle Baillie
  • Colin Gilray
  • David Halaifonua
  • George Hunter
  • Paul Lasike
  • Will Magie
  • Rusty Page
  • Dave Sisi
  • Nodar Tcheishvili
  • Mike Te'o
  • Andrew Turner
  • Tjiuee Uanivi
  • Dino Waldren

SRU presidents

Former London Scottish players have been President of the SRU:

  • 1894–96 Bill Maclagan
  • 1900–01 Robert MacMillan

See also

  • Rugby union in London
  • London Irish RFC
  • London Welsh RFC
  • Middlesex Sevens

Bibliography

  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 )
  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 )
  • Godwin, Terry Complete Who's Who of International Rugby (Cassell, 1987, )
  • Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh; )

References

  • Exiles earn promotion in England, The Scotsman, 16 April 2007