Haddington RFC
Haddington Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in Haddington, East Lothian.
| Full name | Haddington Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Scottish Rugby Union | |
| Founded | 1911 | |
| Location | Haddington, Scotland | |
| Ground(s) | Neilson Park | |
| President | Keith Wallace | |
| Director of Rugby | Bob Snodgrass | |
| Coach(es) | Kieran Cooney | |
| Captain(s) | Gary Cockburn | |
| League(s) | East Division 1 | |
| 2019–20 | East Division 1 | |
| ||
History Edit
Founded in 1911, the team plays its home games at Neilson Park.
Haddington player Jock Wemyss founded the Co-optimists; following a Barbarians inspired match in Haddington in 1924.
They compete in BT National League Division 3, the 3rd tier of Scottish club rugby.[1]
Player development Edit
The minis section was set up almost 50 years ago by Bill Hamilton.
The minis and the School of Rugby with Knox Academy are key to the ongoing success serving as nursery for players. Haddington currently have over 100 kids in each; and the club are delighted that they recently managed to play a couple of girls matches as they seek to develop a woman's team.
There is a tradition of families serving the Club, with many sets of brothers, fathers sons and grandsons turning out.
World record Edit
On 12 August 2018, the club set a world record of 467 for the most participants in a touch/mini/tag game of rugby, ratified by Guinness World Records.[2] In the game, players from age 5 to 73 turned out, including 18 from the Snodgrass Family, covering three generations a former president and two former captains.
Haddington Sevens Edit
The club ran the Haddington Sevens tournament. Dating from 1926, the club claims it is the 10th oldest surviving in the world.[3]
Notable players Edit
Five of the club's players have represented Scotland at full international level: Jock Wemyss, RJC Ronnie Glasgow, Derek White, Grant McKelvey and Cammy Murray. Wemyss at 17 was one of the five founding members. The Internationalists were honoured in a lunch in 2017, with tributes paid amongst others by Finlay Calder, Dave Rollo, Craig Chalmers, Barry Stewart and, for Wemyss the President of the Barbarians Mickey Steele Bodger.[4]
White toured with the 1989 Lions and Glasgow. He played for the World XV in 1964.
Honours Edit
Men Edit
- Haddington Sevens
- Champions (8): 1933, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1969, 1970[3]
- Scottish National League Division Two
- Champions (1): 2006-07
- Glasgow City Sevens
- Champions (4): 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958[5]
- Peebles Sevens
- Champions (2): 1977, 1982[6]
- Walkerburn Sevens
- Champions (6): 1976, 1978, 1980, 2004, 2006, 2017, 2023[7]
- Musselburgh Sevens
- Champions (8): 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1991[8]
- Royal HSFP Sevens
- Champions (1): 1985[9]
- Preston Lodge Sevens
- Champions (1): 1987[10]
- Penicuik Sevens
- Champions (2): 1969, 1985[11]
- Edinburgh District Sevens
- Champions (1): 1951[12]
- North Berwick Sevens
- Champions (4): 1970, 1971, 1977, 2014[13]
Women Edit
- Lismore Sevens
- Champions (1): 1995[14]
References Edit
- ^ "Fixtures & Results: Haddington RFC". Scottish Rugby. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ "Most participants in a touch/mini/tag rugby exhibition match". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Haddington Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ Harper, Gavin (17 December 2017). "Haddington Rugby Club honours its five Scotland internationals". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
- ^ "Cartha / Glasgow City Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Peebles Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Walkerburn | Kings of the 7s".
- ^ "Musselburgh Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Royal HSFP Sevens". 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Preston Lodge Sevens". 9 June 2019.
- ^ "Penicuik Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Edinburgh District Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "North Berwick Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Lismore Sevens". 7 June 2019.