Full name | South of Scotland District | |
---|---|---|
Founded | 1881 | |
Coach(es) | Head Coach - Matty Douglas Assistant Coach - Bert Grigg | |
Captain(s) | Shawn Muir | |
League(s) | Scottish Inter-District Championship | |
2022-23 | 2nd | |
| ||
Current season |
The South of Scotland District is a Scottish amateur rugby union team which plays in the amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship. It draws its players from the South of Scotland, mainly the Scottish Borders where there has always been a proud tradition of rugby union. Historically the South team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship. After rugby union became a professional sport in 1995, the team was replaced in 1996 by the new Border Reivers team based in the same geographical area as the South and who wore the same colours as the old team.
When the professional Border Reivers provincial side folded in 1998, the South amateur district was resurrected and renamed Scottish Borders. The team played as Scottish Borders in three seasons of an amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship from 1999 to 2002. However, when the amateur district championship was again revived in the 2022-23 season, the team reverted to its old South of Scotland name.
The professional side Border Reivers was resurrected in 2002 to play in the new Celtic League. It folded again in 2007.
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.
The South region also plays at age-grade as the Borders side. The region now includes the Scottish Borders and East Lothian. It contributes professional players to the provincial Edinburgh Rugby side.