# Edinburgh District (rugby union)

Edinburgh District is a Scottish amateur rugby union team which plays in the amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship. It draws its players mainly from the Edinburgh area, as well as others from the rest of east central Scotland; roughly corresponding to the old Lothian regional council area. Historically the Edinburgh District team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
The Edinburgh District rugby union team was founded in 1872. The team played the world's first inter-district match that year against the Glasgow District rugby union team.
The amateur Edinburgh District side evolved into the professional Edinburgh Rugby side in 1996; one year after rugby union allowed professionalism in 1995. However the amateur district is still used for the representation of amateur players in the Inter-District Championship; and this amateur championship guides the selection of Scotland Club XV international players.
In 2022 the Inter-District Championship was reintroduced. The Edinburgh District competed in the tournament, playing in fixtures against the South of Scotland, and Glasgow and the West.

## Formation

The Edinburgh District side was formed in 1872 to play against a Glasgow District side.
The teams met on 23 November 1872 at Burnbank Park and Edinburgh won 1 drop goal – 0 in a 20-a-side fixture. This is the oldest inter-district match in the world and to mark this the current Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby sides play for the 1872 Cup every year.
The first Edinburgh team in 1872:
   Backs: A. Ross (Wanderers), J. Patullo (Craigmount), Thomas Roger Marshall (Edinburgh Academicals), W. St. Clair Grant (Craigmount), J. Junor (Royal High School), James Andrew Whitelock Mein (Edinburgh Academicals), and E. Thew (Merchistonians)  Forwards: Francis Moncreiff (captain), R. W. Irvine, E. M. Bannerman, James Finlay (Edinburgh Academicals), Angus Buchanan, Alexander Petrie, and M. Sanderson (Royal High School), Charles Cathcart and John Lisle Hall MacFarlane (Edinburgh University), Tom Whittington (Merchistonians), Benjamin Blyth II (Merchistonians), J. Forsyth and A. R. Stewart (Wanderers)

## Selection of representative players

Often to aid the selection process of Edinburgh District's players a trial match was played.
In Edinburgh's case a trial match of hopefuls was divided into Stripes and Plain teams, so the players could impress the selectors.

## Early history

The Glasgow v Edinburgh district fixture was more or less played annually. The first 15 a side match was played in 1876. Edinburgh won the first fixtures and it wasn't until 1881 that Glasgow won the thirteenth attempt. Glasgow then held dominance until 1887 when once more Edinburgh won again. From the 1880s to the close of the 1890s Edinburgh won a total of only four times in 20-years. The tide turned back in Edinburgh's favour in 1898. With only a solitary Glasgow win in 1905, Edinburgh held sway until 1914.
The games were postponed during the First World War period. After 50-years at Burnbank - the West of Scotland ground in Woodlands, Glasgow – the Glasgow v Edinburgh fixture moved to Glasgow Academical's ground at Anniesland, Glasgow, in 1922. This move prompted yet another shift in balance as Glasgow once again became the dominant force of the two districts.

## Squad

Squad vs South of Scotland on Wednesday 9th May 2023 (lost 50-17) at the Netherdale, Galashiels.
* Cole Imrie (Edinburgh Accies)
* Ryan Stewart (Currie)
* Graeme Carson (Currie)
* Jamie Sword (Stewart’s Melville)
* Ali McCallum (Currie)
* Finlay Simpson (Edinburgh Accies)
* Rhys Davies CAPTAIN (Currie)
* Ruari Campbell (Edinburgh Accies)
* Aaron Porteous (Stewart’s Melville)
* Jamie Loomes (Edinburgh Accies)
* Lewis Wells (Edinburgh Accies)
* Greg Cannie (Currie)
* Neil Armstrong (Edinburgh Accies)
* Iain Sim (Currie)
* Charlie Brett (Currie)
SUBS (all used)
16. Danny Dineen (Heriots)
17. Chris Anderson (Currie)
18. John Lascelles (Heriots
19. Gregor Nelson (Currie)
20. Ali Johnstone (Heriots)
21. Cameron Lessels (Currie)
22. Ben Heber (Watsonians)
23. Ben Morris (Watsonians)
Squad vs Glasgow on Sunday 21st May 2023 (Lost 22 - 12) at Braidholm.
* Chris Anderson (Currie)
* Ryan Stewart (Currie)
* Graeme Carson (Currie)
* Ali Bain (Boroughmuir)
* Ali McCallum (Currie)
* Rhys Davies CAPTAIN (Currie)
* Stu Allison (Watsonians)
* Ruari Campbell (Edinburgh Accies)
* Sinjin Broad (Edinburgh Accies)
* Jamie Loomes (Edinburgh Accies)
* Iain Sim (Currie)
* Greg Cannie (Currie)
* Neil Armstrong (Edinburgh Accies)
* Paul Christie (Heriots)
* Charlie Brett (Currie)
SUBS (All used)
16. Danny Dineen (Heriots)
17. Cole Imrie (Edinburgh Accies)
18. John Lascelles (Heriots)
19. Malachy Keogh (Heriots)
20. Gregor Nelson (Currie)
21. Cameron Lessels (Currie)
22. Ben Heber (Watsonians)
23. Innes Hill (Heriots)

## Scottish Inter-District Championship

Two other Scottish districts South and North and Midlands had also been formed and there was regular matches between the four Scottish districts as well as against the touring sides.
The Scottish Inter-District Championship was established in the 1953–54 season. The Glasgow District, Edinburgh, South and North and Midlands sides would play off to see which district was best in Scotland. Occasionally London Scottish or an Anglo-Scots team was also invited into this championship.
* Edinburgh v North and Midlands 20 November 1965 match report
* Edinburgh v Glasgow 4 December 1965 match report
* Edinburgh v North and Midlands 4 November 1967 match report
* Edinburgh v Glasgow 22 December 1973 match reportReport2
* Edinburgh v North and Midlands 29 December 1973 match report
* Edinburgh v Glasgow 7 December 1974 match report

## Effect of professionalism

With the advent of professionalism in 1995, the Scottish Rugby Union realised that not even the best semi-professional Scottish club teams could compete in the new Professional Era in rugby union, which was beginning to gain great momentum in the professional leagues of the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere.
In an attempt to stay in touch with the leading nations the SRU formed four professional teams out of the four amateur districts of Scotland in 1996. It was these newly professional teams that would represent Scotland in the Heineken Cup and in the Celtic League. The amateur Edinburgh District side was to become the professional Edinburgh Rugby side.
For the subsequent history of the professional Edinburgh rugby district team from 1996, see Edinburgh rugby.

## Rebirth of the amateur district

Edinburgh District as an amateur district, will return in the 2022–23 Amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship. Its Head Coach will be Bob McKillop, previously a Scotland age-grade coach, aided by assistant coaches Alex Hagart (Stewart’s Melville), Mark Cairns (Currie Chieftains) and Iain Bethinussen (Edinburgh Academical).
McKillop noted:
   Having grown up in an era when the Inter-district Championship was something special for players and coaches to be involved in, it is fantastic to see it being revived. It’s a huge privilege to be asked to work with the best coaches and players in the Edinburgh District. We want to create an environment the players fall in love with and go back and tell their club mates how great the experience was. I’m especially looking forward to our game at Netherdale because I know the Borders fans will buy into this and make it a great occasion. I really hope this is the start of the re-emergence of the competition, and that it goes from strength to strength over the next few seasons.

## Honours
### Season standings
#### Inter-City

| Inter-City | No Inter-City played |
Glasgow score given first. ᵜ Previous to 1876 only goals counted; tries were ignored in the result.
Scoreline key:
| Glasgow win | Edinburgh win | Draw |

##### Twice a season matches

| Season | Date | Score | Report | Notes | Date | Score | Report | Notes |
| 1872-73 | 23 Nov 1872 | 0 - 1dg | Report | XX a side | 15 Jan 1873 | 0 - 1 gl, 2tr | Detail | XX a side |
| 1873-74 | 6 Dec 1873 | 0 - 0 | Report | XX a side | 24 Jan 1874 | 0 - 1 tr ᵜ | Report | XX a side |
| 1874-75 | 5 Dec 1874 | 0 - 0 | Report | XX a side | 20 Feb 1875 | 0 - 0 | Report | XX a side |
| 1875-76 | 18 Dec 1875 | 0 - 0 | Report | XX a side | 29 Jan 1876 | 0 - 0 | Report | XV a side |

##### Annual matches

| Season | Date | Score | Report | Notes |
| 1876-77 | 2 Dec 1876 | 0 - 1tr | Report | XV a side from now on |
| 1877-78 | 1 Dec 1877 | 0 - 1dg | Report | |
| 1878-79 | | | | no match; 9 weeks of frost |
| 1879-80 | 20 Dec 1879 | 1gl - 1gl | Report | |
| 1880-81 | 4 Dec 1880 | 0 - 1gl, 2 trl | Report | |
| 1881-82 | 3 Dec 1881 | 1gl, 1tr - 1tr | Report | |
| 1882-83 | 2 Dec 1882 | 1gl, 1 tr - 0 | Report | |
| 1883-84 | 1 Dec 1883 | 1tr - 1gl, 2tr | Report | |
| 1884-85 | 6 Dec 1884 | 1gl - 1tr | Report | |
| 1885-86 | 5 Dec 1885 | 1gl, 1tr - 2tr | Report | Hampden Park |
| 1886-87 | 4 Dec 1886 | 1tr - 0 | Report | |
| 1887-88 | 3 Dec 1887 | 0 - 2gl, 3tr | Report | |
| 1888-89 | 1 Dec 1888 | 1gl - 0 | Report | |
| 1889-90 | 7 Dec 1889 | 0 - 1dg | Report | |
| 1890-91 | 6 Dec 1890 | 1gl, 5tr - 2tr | Report | |
| 1891-92 | 5 Dec 1891 | 1dg, 1tr - 1tr | Report | |
| 1892-93 | 17 Dec 1892 | 1gl, 1tr - 3tr | Report | |
| 1893-94 | 16 Dec 1893 | 2gl, 2tr - 0 | Report | |
| 1894-95 | 1 Dec 1894 | 2 gl - 2 tr | Report | |
| 1895-96 | 7 Dec 1895 | 0 - 0 | Report | |
| 1896-97 | 5 Dec 1896 | 1tr - 0 | Report | |
| 1897-98 | 4 Dec 1897 | 1pg, 1tr - 1gl | Report | |
| 1898-99 | 3 Dec 1898 | 1dg, 3tr - 0 | Report | |
| 1899-1900 | 2 Dec 1899 | 1pg - 3tr | Report | |
| 1900-01 | 1 Dec 1900 | 0 - 2gl, 3tr | Report | |
| 1901-02 | 7 Dec 1901 | 0 - 2gl, 2tr | Report | |
| 1902-03 | 13 Dec 1902 | 0 - 0 | Report | |
| 1903-04 | 5 Dec 1903 | 0 - 2gl, 5tr | Report | |
| 1904-05 | 3 Dec 1904 | 1tr - 2tr | Report | |
| 1905-06 | 2 Dec 1905 | 1gl, 2tr - 1tr | Report | |
| 1906-07 | 1 Dec 1906 | 0 - 0 | Report | |
| 1907-08 | 7 Dec 1907 | 0 - 0 | Report | |
| 1908-09 | 5 Dec 1908 | 1gl, 1tr - 1tr | Report | |
| 1909-10 | 18 Dec 1909 | 1gl, 2tr - 2gl, 2tr | Report | |
| 1910-11 | 3 Dec 1910 | 1gl - 4gl, 2tr | Report | |
| 1911-12 | 2 Dec 1911 | 2tr - 3gl, 2tr | Report | |
| 1912-13 | 7 Dec 1912 | 1pg, 1tr - 2gl, 1tr | Report | |
| 1913-14 | 6 Dec 1913 | 1dg - 1dg | Report | |
| 1914-19 | | | | no matches; war years |
| 1919-20 | 6 Dec 1919 | 1pg - 2gl, 3tr | Report | |
| 1920-21 | 4 Dec 1920 | 1pg, 1tr - 1gl, 2tr | Report | |
| 1921-22 | 3 Dec 1921 | 1gl, 1tr - 1pg | Report | |
| 1922-23 | 2 Dec 1922 | 1gl, 1tr - 1gl, 4tr | Report | Old Anniesland |
| 1923-24 | 1 Dec 1923 | 1plg - 1plg | Report | |
| 1924-25 | 6 Dec 1924 | 4gl, 3tr - 2tr | Report | |
| 1925-26 | | | Report Report | no match; frost |
| 1926-27 | 4 Dec 1926 | 3tr - 3gl, 1p, 1tr | Report | |
| 1927-28 | 3 Dec 1927 | 1p - 1gl, 1tr, 1p | Report | |
| 1928-29 | 1 Dec 1928 | 1g, 1d, 2p, 1tr - 3g, 1t | Report | |
| 1929-30 | 7 Dec 1929 | 1gl, 5tr - 1gl, 1tr | Report | |
| 1930-31 | 6 Dec 1930 | 3tr - 2p | Report | |
| 1931-32 | 5 Dec 1931 | 2tr - 1gl, 1p, 1tr | Report | |
| 1932-33 | 3 Dec 1932 | 1gl, 1tr - 1gl, 4tr | Report | |
| 1933-34 | 2 Dec 1933 | 1gl, 1tr - 1p, 4tr | Report | |
| 1934-35 | 1 Dec 1934 | 1tr - 0 | Report | |
| 1935-36 | 7 Dec 1935 | 4gl, 3tr - 0 | Report | |
| 1936-37 | 5 Dec 1936 | 1gl, 1p, 1tr - 1p | Report | |
| 1937-38 | 4 Dec 1937 | 4gl, 3p - 1p, 1tr | Report | |
| 1938-39 | 3 Dec 1938 | 2p, 1tr - 1dg, 3p, 1tr | Report | |
| 1939-45 | | | | no matches; war years |
| 1945-46 | 1 Dec 1945 | 1tr - 5gl,1p, 2tr | Report | |
| 1946-47 | 7 Dec 1946 | 3tr - 4gl, 3tr | Report | |
| 1947-48 | 6 Dec 1947 | 2dg, 1tr - 1gl, 1tr | Report | |
| 1948-49 | 4 Dec 1948 | 2p, 1tr - 1p | Report | |
| 1949-50 | 3 Dec 1949 | 0 - 1gl, 1p | Report | |
| 1950-51 | 2 Dec 1950 | 1gl, 1p, 1tr - 1p | Report | |
| 1951-52 | 1 Dec 1951 | 2tr - 1tr | Report | |
| 1952-53 | 13 Dec 1952 | 1g, 2p, 1t - 2g, 1t | Report | |

#### Scottish Inter-District Championship

The Inter-City match was then incorporated into the Scottish Inter-District Championship. For Glasgow's professional championship results from 1996 see Glasgow Warriors; for results of later Glasgow - Edinburgh matches see 1872 Cup.
* Scottish Inter-District Championship
| Season | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | BP | Pts | Notes |
| 1953–54 | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 18 | +35 | - | 6 | |
| 1954–55 | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 17 | +6 | - | 3 | |
| 1955–56 | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 9 | +21 | - | 4 | |
| 1956–57 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 28 | +8 | - | 4 | Shared with South |
| 1957–58 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 23 | +19 | - | 5 | Shared with South |
| 1958–59 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 24 | -4 | - | 4 | Shared with South |
| 1959–60 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 35 | -4 | - | 4 | Shared with South & North and Midlands |
| 1960–61 | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 14 | +29 | - | 6 | |
| 1961–62 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 9 | +28 | - | 5 | Shared with South |
| 1962–63 | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 9 | +29 | - | 6 | |
| 1963–64 | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 15 | +15 | - | 4 | |
| 1964–65 | 4th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 33 | -8 | - | 2 | |
| 1965–66 | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 11 | +21 | - | 4 | |
| 1966–67 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 28 | -9 | - | 1 | |
| 1967–68 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 25 | +23 | - | 4 | Shared with South & Glasgow |
| 1968–69 | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 54 | -12 | - | 3 | |
| 1969–70 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 28 | -16 | - | 1 | |
| 1970–71 | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 49 | -5 | - | 2 | |
| 1971–72 | 1st= (CH) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 36 | +6 | - | 4 | Edinburgh beat Glasgow in play-off |
| 1972–73 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 41 | +13 | - | 4 | |
| 1973–74 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 38 | -19 | - | 0 | |
| 1974–75 | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 32 | -5 | - | 2 | |
| 1975–76 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 38 | 34 | +4 | - | 4 | |
| 1976–77 | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 51 | +34 | - | 4 | |
| 1977–78 | 1st= | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 34 | +15 | - | 4 | Shared with Glasgow & South |
| 1978–79 | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 42 | +43 | - | 4 | |
| 1979–80 | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 31 | +72 | - | 6 | |
| 1980–81 | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 33 | +41 | - | 2 | |
| 1981–82 | 1st= | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 80 | 28 | +52 | - | 7 | Shared with South |
| 1982–83 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 66 | +22 | - | 4 | |
| 1983–84 | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 107 | 59 | +48 | - | 4 | |
| 1984–85 | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 82 | 59 | +23 | - | 6 | |
| 1985–86 | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 65 | 38 | +27 | - | 6 | |
| 1986–87 | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 51 | +45 | - | 8 | |
| 1987–88 | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 55 | +33 | - | 8 | |
| 1988–89 | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 45 | +70 | - | 8 | |
| 1989–90 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 93 | 65 | +28 | - | 5 | |
| 1990–91 | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 63 | 70 | -7 | - | 4 | |
| 1991–92 | 5th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 44 | -23 | - | 2 | Abbreviated tournament - no winner |
| 1992–93 | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 93 | 69 | +24 | - | 5 | |
| 1993–94 | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 46 | -12 | - | - | |
| 1994–95 | 2nd | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 62 | 62 | 0 | - | 4 | |
| 1995–96 | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 109 | 82 | +27 | - | 4 | |

##### Professional Era

The Amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship has been restarted twice in the professional era. The first restart was from 1999 to 2002; the second restart from the 2022-23 season.
| Season | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | BP | Pts |
| 1999–2000 | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 118 | -28 | 2 | 6 |
| 2000–01 | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 86 | +8 | 2 | 11 |
| 2001–02 | 5th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 66 | 176 | -110 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | 4th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 72 | -43 | 0 | 0 |

## Partial list of games played against international opposition

24 November 1962: Edinburgh 22–3 Canada, at Murrayfield 19 November 1975: Edinburgh 10–19 Australia, at Myreside 31 October 1979: Edinburgh 4–16 New Zealand, at Myreside
19 September 1981: Edinburgh 13–18 Romania, at Myreside
15 September 1982: Edinburgh 47–12 Fiji, at Myreside
26 October 1983: Edinburgh 6–22 New Zealand, at Myreside
23 September 1986: Edinburgh 26–14 Japan, at Myreside
23 September 1987: Edinburgh 9–22 France, at Goldenacre 9 November 1988: Edinburgh 19–25 Australia, at Myreside
8 November 1995: Edinburgh 22–35 Western Samoa, at Inverleith 24 August 2007: Edinburgh 14-26 Tonga, at Myreside

## Notable players

* James Robertson - world's first black rugby union player.
* Eric Liddell - won the 1924 Olympic gold medal for the 400 metres in athletics.