Heriot's Rugby Club

A Long and Storied History

Founded in 1890, Heriot's Rugby Club quickly rose through the ranks of Scottish rugby. By the 1920s, they were competing with the top teams in the country, attracting crowds of up to 10,000 for matches. The club's success continued throughout the 20th century, winning the unofficial club championship in the early 1920s and later claiming the SRU club championship in 1978-79 and back-to-back titles in 1998/99 and 1999/2000. In 2014/15, they achieved one of their most successful seasons yet, capturing both the Premiership title and the Charity Shield while reaching the Cup semi-finals. A notable highlight was hosting the legendary Barbarians team at Goldenacre, allowing them to face world-class players.

Beyond School Ties

While Heriot's Rugby Club shares its home ground, Goldenacre, with the school's hockey and cricket clubs, it has evolved beyond its educational roots. The professional era has seen the club benefit from recruiting talented players who honed their skills elsewhere.

Seven-a-Side Champions

Heriot's has also made its mark in the seven-a-side game, conquering all major Scottish tournaments. They hold the distinction of being the first club north of the border to win the prestigious Twickenham Sevens in 1949. Their Under-21 Sevens tournament at Goldenacre, held annually until recently, attracted a strong showing of teams.

International Pipeline

Since 1922, Heriot's has consistently produced players for the Scottish national team, with contributions extending to England as well. The club boasts eight international full-backs for Scotland and three brothers, the Milne family, who all earned caps in the front row. Heriot's players have also represented the British & Irish Lions, the Barbarians, and various other representative teams and tours.

A Commitment to Rugby's Spirit

Following the motto of George Heriot's school to "distribute cheerfullie," Heriot's Rugby Club strives to foster camaraderie and maintain excellent standards of play at Goldenacre. As the game of rugby continues to evolve, the club remains committed to preserving the harmonious spirit that is essential to the sport's well-being.