Rugby

Saints Rugby caters for members of all levels; from beginners new to the game through to scholars within the University performance rugby programme.

Performance

With world-class facilities, highly experienced coaches, and a comprehensive support programme, St Andrews offers students a world-leading academic education and a professionally run rugby programme as part of the truly unique student experience.

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Rugby Club

Founded in 1858, the University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club is one of the oldest sports clubs at the University and is the sixth oldest rugby club in the world.

Saints Rugby caters for members of all levels; from beginners new to the game through to scholars within the University performance rugby programme.

The club currently supports 4 competitive men’s squads, 2 competitive and development squads within the women’s programme and a touch rugby section.

All matriculated students at the University can join the Rugby Club.

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British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) championships

Saints Rugby currently supports 4 competitive men’s squads and 2 competitive women’s squads within the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championship – the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK.

Each squad competes on a weekly basis throughout term time in the tiered BUCS league structure and BUCS knockout competitions, contributing to the University’s overall standing in the BUCS points table.

Additional fixtures include the annual Scottish Varsity Match against the University of Edinburgh, pre-season friendlies, development tournaments and opportunities to play on the 7s circuit.

Fixtures and results:

M1 Premier North 2
M2 Scottish Tier 2
M3 Scottish Tier 3
M4 Scottish Tier 4B
W1 Scottish Tier 1
W2 Scottish Tier 2

Touch rugby

Mixed Touch is a sociable and inclusive section of the Rugby Club, offering weekly sessions catering for both competitive and recreational players of all standards and abilities.

Taster sessions are offered at the start of each semester for those new to the sport that focus on drills and games to provide a basic understanding of touch rugby.

Competition

Each year the club looks to enter the Scottish University Touch Tournament hosted by the Scottish Touch Association, with additional opportunities to compete in the Northern England University Touch Series or friendly matches against neighbouring Scottish university teams.

Club history

Founded in 1858, the University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club is a founder member of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and has been an integral part of the University for 160 years.

In 1871 in the first international between Scotland and England at Raeburn Place, three St Andrews students, A Clunies-Ross, R Munro and J S Thomson represented Scotland, showing the importance of the club at that time.

The club has gone on to produce over 25 international rugby players who between them have gained 150 international caps, including four British & Irish Lions and eight players who have represented the Barbarians.

“If ‘carrying’ was initiated at Rugby, ‘passing’, the great feature of the back game, came from St Andrews.”
Christopher Nicolson Johnston

Scottish Varsity Match

The Scottish Varsity Match between Scotland’s two oldest university rugby clubs dates back more than 160 years, and is believed to predate the annual Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity Match. Formed in 1857 and 1858, respectively, Edinburgh University RFC and the University of St Andrews RFC are two of the oldest rugby clubs in the world, with only the Edinburgh Academical FC claiming a longer existence in Scotland.

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St Andrews Rugby 7s Tournament

Since its inception in 1970, the St Andrews Seven-a-side Rugby Tournament has grown to become one of the top 7s tournaments in the Scottish rugby calendar and the largest student run 7s in the UK.

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Saints Rugby leisurewear

The University has teamed up with internationally renowned sports brand Macron to supply team and leisurewear to Saints Sport and affiliated clubs. Buy your official Saints Rugby kit today from the Macron online store.

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1858 Club – Supporter network

Are you a St Andrews graduate and former member of the Rugby Club? Join our community of supporters from around the globe to help us develop a world-renowned rugby programme at Scotland’s first university.

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With your support we can provide greater value, more opportunities, and a better experience for our student rugby players.

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Why St Andrews

With over six centuries of heritage, world-class teaching and facilities that are both historic and state-of-the-art, St Andrews offers an outstanding education.

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