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 Scottish Varsity Match

University of St Andrews 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.

The 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

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.

Men’s Performance Squad 2022-2023

Performance rugby

Men’s rugby is one of a small number of targeted performance teams at St Andrews. The performance rugby programme provides a comprehensive programme of training, competition and support to enable our top student players to harness their full potential and achieve sporting and academic excellence whilst studying at St Andrews.

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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.

Featured news

Saints Sport Rugby Club was awarded Club of the Year at the Scottish Student Sport (SSS) awards earlier this year (Wednesday 18 May).

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Saints Sport at the University of St Andrews have developed a new partnership with global technology company Emtelle.

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Join Saints Rugby

All matriculated students at the University can join the Rugby Club

Join our alumni network

If you are a graduate from St Andrews and a former member of the Rugby Club we would love to hear from you, and would encourage you to join our ever expanding network of alumni. If you would like to be kept up to date with news, activities and events from Saints Rugby, please ensure we hold the correct information and contact details for you by completing our short online form.

Support the Rugby Club

The 1858 Club was formed to support the development of rugby at St Andrews and offers a way for former players, friends, and family to stay connected and help sustain the Club’s long and distinguished history. By supporting Saints Rugby you will be helping the club provide extra equipment, playing kit, clothing, additional training and transport provision, match officials or extra coaching, that will add greater value, more opportunities and a better experience for our students.