North and Midlands

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North and Midlands
Full nameNorth and Midlands District
Foundedamateur 1954; 67 years ago (1954)
professional 1996; 25 years ago (1996)

North and Midlands was a select provincial amateur rugby union team that drew its players mainly from north of Scotland, roughly corresponding from around Stirling northwards.[1] Historically the North and Midlands team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.[2]

When the professional Caledonia Reds provincial side folded in 1998, the North and Midlands amateur district was resurrected and renamed Caledonia. The team played as Caledonia in three seasons of an amateur Scottish Inter-District Championship from 1999 to 2002.

The Caledonia region still plays at age-grade. The Caledonia region now contributes to the provincial Glasgow Warriors side.

Formation[]

The side was essentially a combined team based on the North of Scotland and the Midlands District. Both were independent districts and played a North v Midlands trial match for selection to the North and Midlands combined team. Both North and Midlands district were merged into one district, now called Caledonia.[3]

Main article: Scottish District rugby structure

Scottish Inter-District Championship[]

Although the North and Midlands combined team began earlier in periodic matches, it formally began as a de facto district in 1954 - when, after the start of the Scottish Inter-District Championship in 1953-54 season, the Midlands District complained to the Scottish Rugby Union that the North of Scotland District side which competed in that first championship had several Midlands players in its squad and that the Midlands should receive equal recognition for providing their players to the North of Scotland District team. The SRU agreed and the combined team became formally known as North and Midlands.[3]

Professionalism[]

The amateur North and Midlands side evolved into the professional Caledonia Reds side in 1996; one year after rugby union allowed professionalism in 1995.[4]

Honours[]

It shared the Scottish Inter-District Championship two times:- in 1959 - 60 season (with Edinburgh District and South); and in 1974 -75 season (with Glasgow District).[5]

Season standings[]

Scottish Inter-District Championship[]

Although Midlands players were used in North's side in 1953-54, there was no formal recognition in that season. Following an upheld complaint by Midlands to the SRU, the renamed side North and Midlands competed in the 1954-55 championship onwards.

For North and Midlands professional championship results from 1996 see Caledonia Reds.

Scottish Inter-District Championship
Season Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts Notes
1954–55 4th 3 0 0 3 11 48 -37 - 0
1955–56 3rd 3 1 0 2 17 41 -24 - 2
1956–57 3rd 3 1 1 1 22 30 -8 - 3
1957–58 4th 3 0 0 3 17 73 -56 - 0
1958–59 3rd 3 2 0 1 14 18 -4 - 2
1959–60 1st= 3 2 0 1 32 23 +9 - 4 Shared with South and Edinburgh
1960–61 3rd 3 1 0 2 35 45 -10 - 2
1961–62 3rd 3 1 0 2 23 29 -6 - 2
1962–63 4th 3 0 0 3 9 49 -40 - 0
1963–64 4th 3 0 0 3 3 30 -27 - 0
1964–65 3rd 3 1 0 2 29 37 -8 - 2
1965–66 3rd 3 1 0 2 26 30 -4 - 2
1966–67 2nd 3 2 0 1 30 27 +3 - 4
1967–68 4th 3 0 0 3 21 67 -46 - 0
1968–69 4th 3 0 1 2 27 39 -12 - 1
1969–70 3rd 3 1 0 2 30 47 -17 - 2
1970–71 4th 2 0 0 2 20 31 -11 - 0 Glasgow match cancelled
1971–72 4th 3 1 0 2 28 65 -37 - 2
1972–73 3rd 3 1 0 2 45 48 -3 - 2
1973–74 3rd 3 1 0 2 34 38 -4 - 2
1974–75 1st= 3 2 0 1 36 26 +10 - 4 Shared with Glasgow
1975–76 4th 3 0 0 3 20 61 -41 - 0
1976–77 3rd 3 1 0 2 54 86 +32 - 2
1977–78 4th 3 0 0 3 7 86 -79 - 0
1978–79 4th 3 0 0 3 23 64 -41 - 0
1979–80 4th 3 0 0 3 19 151 -132 - 0
1980–81 4th 3 0 0 3 9 118 -109 - 0
1981–82 5th 3 0 0 3 29 79 -50 - 0 Match with Anglo-Scots invalid
1982–83 5th 4 0 0 4 31 136 -105 - 0
1983–84 5th 4 0 0 4 28 149 -121 - 0
1984–85 4th 4 1 0 3 40 103 -63 - 2
1985–86 5th 4 0 0 4 28 116 -88 - 0
1986–87 5th 4 0 0 4 29 104 -75 - 0
1987–88 5th 4 0 0 4 50 141 -91 - 0
1988–89 5th 4 0 0 4 27 81 -54 - 0
1989–90 5th 4 0 0 4 47 82 -35 - 0
1990–91 5th 4 1 0 3 48 77 -29 - 2
1991–92 3rd 2 1 0 1 15 23 -8 - 2 Abbreviated tournament - no winner
1992–93 3rd 4 2 0 2 60 101 -41 - 4
1993–94 4th 2 0 0 2 38 65 -27 - -
1994–95 3rd 4 1 1 2 69 84 -15 - 3
1995–96 3rd 4 2 0 2 95 72 +23 - 4

Partial list of games played against international opposition[]

Year Date Opponent Venue Result Score Tour
1978 5 December  New Zealand Aberdeen Loss 3-31 1978 New Zealand tour of Britain & Ireland[6] Report
1981 15 December  Australia Aberdeen Loss 3–36 1981–82 Australia tour of Britain & Ireland[7]
1986 20 September  Japan Aberdeen Loss 19–27 1986 Japan rugby union tour of Great Britain Report
1988 15 November  Australia Dundee Loss 17-37 1988 Australia rugby union tour of England, Scotland and Italy
1995 20 September  Samoa Perth Win 47-14 1995 Western Samoa rugby union tour of Great Britain

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Reborn Caledonia Reds out to reclaim their role in Scottish rugby".
  2. ^ "Scarce 1978 North and Midlands of Scotland v New Zealand rugby programme – played at Links Field".
  3. ^ a b Midlands First and Last. John Methven. H.B Rutherford publishers. 1989
  4. ^ "SRU looks north in quest for third pro team".
  5. ^ Border Reivers v Glasgow 24 October 1997 match programme
  6. ^ Jenkins, Vivian (1979). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1979–80. Rothmans Publications Ltd. p. 30. ISBN 0354090879.
  7. ^ Jenkins, Vivian (1982). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1982–83. Rothmans Publications Ltd. p. 27. ISBN 0907574130.
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