Aberdeen University Rugby Football Club
Encyclopedia
Aberdeen University Rugby Football Club is a rugby union
team at the University of Aberdeen
in Scotland
.
, the fifth oldest university in Britain. It was not until 1882 that AURFC affiliated to the Scottish Rugby Union
, it was the 17th club to join the SRU structure but most amazingly, given its location, it was the first club north of Edinburgh to join after the University of St Andrews RFC, which is one of the founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union. University rugby is exceptionally important to Scottish Rugby with one quarter of the oldest teams in Scotland being university based.
for not fulfilling fixtures in the late 90's. This resulted in the club being removed from the SRU league structure and forced to start from the bottom division. This was the lowest point in the clubs long and distinguished history. With Aberdeen Grammar being demoted from the Scottish Premier league a void of high class rugby teams in Aberdeen existed and resulted in many university players returning from clubs to play for AURFC. Several seasons of straight promotions in the beginning of the new century has seen the team rise to Caledonian Division League 1 and also a return to the first division of the Scottish Universities Sport
and BUCS
Leagues going on to win 1a in 2010.
. The first time a university side has ever reached the final of an SRU competition . They followed up this success in season 2008/09 when they successful defended their title with a 33-10 win againsty Duns.
This same year the university 1st XV was promoted to division 1a and narrowly missed out on winning the league coming in second place, but in 2010 the 1st XV went on to win Scotland top University league.
and the Scottish Rugby Union
.
.
With the professional era upon us it will be unlikely the club will ever have any Scottish or British Lions players again but it is still punching above its weight and the club annually boasts several age group Scottish internationals and in 2008/09 had 15 players selected for the Scottish Universities squad.
∗ Matthew Nelmes, the second University of Aberdeen
Lions
player in the 2009 British Lions tour to South Africa
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
History
Acknowledged as the equal oldest rugby club in the North East of Scotland, 1871, AURFC has had a long and successful history producing both Scotland and British Lions players. Its traditional playing venue has been Kings Playing Fields right in the heart of old Aberdeen and the centre of campus for the University of AberdeenUniversity of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, the fifth oldest university in Britain. It was not until 1882 that AURFC affiliated to the Scottish Rugby Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
, it was the 17th club to join the SRU structure but most amazingly, given its location, it was the first club north of Edinburgh to join after the University of St Andrews RFC, which is one of the founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union. University rugby is exceptionally important to Scottish Rugby with one quarter of the oldest teams in Scotland being university based.
Decline and Rebirth
AURFC was disciplined by the Scottish Rugby UnionScottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
for not fulfilling fixtures in the late 90's. This resulted in the club being removed from the SRU league structure and forced to start from the bottom division. This was the lowest point in the clubs long and distinguished history. With Aberdeen Grammar being demoted from the Scottish Premier league a void of high class rugby teams in Aberdeen existed and resulted in many university players returning from clubs to play for AURFC. Several seasons of straight promotions in the beginning of the new century has seen the team rise to Caledonian Division League 1 and also a return to the first division of the Scottish Universities Sport
Scottish Universities Sport
Scottish Universities Sport is the professional body for delivery and furthering of sports at university level in Scotland. SUS currently has 16 affiliated Higher Education members and is looking into expanding with Further Education....
and BUCS
Bucs
Bucs or BUCS may refer to:*Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida*Pittsburgh Pirates, a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania*British Universities and Colleges Sport...
Leagues going on to win 1a in 2010.
Recent Achievements
Recent achievements have been considerable. Most notably was the 2007/08 Scottish Hydro Electric Scottish Rugby Union Plate victory at MurrayfieldMurrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
. The first time a university side has ever reached the final of an SRU competition . They followed up this success in season 2008/09 when they successful defended their title with a 33-10 win againsty Duns.
This same year the university 1st XV was promoted to division 1a and narrowly missed out on winning the league coming in second place, but in 2010 the 1st XV went on to win Scotland top University league.
Affiliations
AURFC is a full member of Aberdeen University Sports UnionAberdeen University Sports Union
Aberdeen University Sports Union is an elected body responsible for the running of all organised student sport at the University of Aberdeen. It is a constituent part of Aberdeen University Students' Association. It is not responsible for facilities and rents time for its clubs from Aberdeen...
and the Scottish Rugby Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
.
Notable players
The club throughout history has boasted some impressive individual rugby players and have represented Scotland and the British LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
.
With the professional era upon us it will be unlikely the club will ever have any Scottish or British Lions players again but it is still punching above its weight and the club annually boasts several age group Scottish internationals and in 2008/09 had 15 players selected for the Scottish Universities squad.
- Ronald S. Cummings, the first AURFC international cap in 1921, when he played against for Scotland.
- John Robert Stephen Innes, in 1939 and 1946.
- E.T.S Michie, the first University of AberdeenUniversity of AberdeenThe University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
player in the 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa1955 British Lions tour to South AfricaIn 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
∗ Matthew Nelmes, the second University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
player in the 2009 British Lions tour to South Africa