The Royal High School Club
 

             

 

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Club Records
Annual Records

RHSFP Rugby Club History

1868 - 2002

 

Hugh MacKenzie, known to many High Scholars as the prime mover in Old Crocks Rugby in the FP Rugby Club is extremely keen to ensure that the records and legacy of the Club is not lost, given that it was merged with Corstorphine Rugby Club in 2002 and is now known as RHC (Royal High Corstorphine).   Hugh hopes  that the material will in due course become a book, and be treasured by generations of rugby players who will leave it in a prominent position on their coffee tables.

In the meantime however, the Royal High School Club have agreed to host an extract from the potential publication on their website, and given that many rugby photographs already feature here, we trust this will be seen as a welcome addition to the chronicles of the School.   The Web Administrator has been entrusted by Hugh to compile the record.

The History is divided into a number of sections, and includes records, anecdotes, individual and group photographs.     It has been decided to limit the annual records in this website, which consist of a team photograph and tabular information, to around a dozen specific and memorable years.   It is also intended to produce a CD in due course which will contain records of all one hundred and thirty four years.

If You feel that you have spotted any errors, omissions, or can add anything to this record, please contact the website administrator.

 

 

Topic List

 

The following topics are effectively the contents list of the proposed paper publication.    The first list is available on this page, while the other two are available on separate pages.    Click a topic to view it, and click back to top (which can be found at the end of each topic) to return to the index of topics.     Where a hyperlink appears in the text and you elect to follow it, return via the back button in your browser.

 

Introduction and Dedication

A Brief History of the Club

International Players

Mark Morrison

Pringle Fisher

Grounds

The Centenary

Special Games

Newspaper Cuttings

Memorabilia

Bibliography

 

The Club Records pages contain the following topics

 

Barbarians

Co-optomists

International trialists

Inter-City Players

Representative Players

Leading try and points scorers

Players in the Century Club

Presidents of the SRU

Club Officials and Annual playing record

Honorary Members

Seven’s Winners

Brian Scott’s record

H.D.M.’s record

 

The Annual Records pages records the individual records for a number of special years, from the late 1880's to the late 1990's.    Although most records exist for these 134 years, a dozen have been selected as representing the halcyon days of the Club.     It is hoped that a CD will be produced which comprises all years in addition to the other material shown here.

 

 
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Introduction and Dedication

THE PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO ALL THOSE PLAYERS WHO HAVE PULLED ON THE BLACK AND WHITE JERSEY AND ROLLED IN THE MUD  FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL OVER THE LAST  HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR SEASONS     IT ALSO FORMS A SPECIAL DEDICATION TO THOSE PLAYERS AND MEMBERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE TWO WORLD WARS.

This publication is primarily the work of the late Sandy Thorburn, a former High School teacher, cricketer and Rugby Club Historian. In 1950 Sandy started to collect information in order to establish and develop a statistical record of all Royal High Rugby matches including the results, players and scorers from day one in 1868.during his involvement with the Club Sandy meticulously  kept a record of  all the  matches as they were played week by week until 1972.   This momentous undertaking resulted in him being recognized  as the leading Scottish Rugby Historian of this time, a status also recognized by another famous Scottish rugby personality and fellow native of Hawick Bill Maclaren.   In 1968 Sandy’s work was taken over by Jock Dewar, at that time a Royal High School teacher, who moved the records forward into the electronic age but basically following the statistical pattern created and established by Sandy.  In 1988 the post of club Historian was handed on to Hugh MacKenzie who carried on Jock’s electronic system  until the club amalgamated with Corstorphine Rugby Club in 2003.   This amalgamation seemed like the appropriate time to close the book on the former club’s historical records.   This meant that the Royal High records may be unique in that the club could well be  the only club in Scotland to have a statistical record of all the matches played, results, points scored and the names of players. This publication was produced to make sure that all Sandy’s endeavours were not lost and would be maintained in honour of   the many that wore the Black and White of this famous club, which was one of the eight original members of the Scottish Football Union.

 

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A Brief History of the Club

 

The Royal High Rugby Club's origins are to be found in the Royal High School, which means they are covered in the mists of time.   There is some evidence, supplied by a famous Academical sportsman, that there was a 'carrying' game played in the School in about 1810.   This provides a link with Sir Walter Scott, who was a pupil at that time.   The original rules of Rugby Football were brought to the school in 1856 by an English Public schoolboy.

 

  This letter (a facsimile of the original), was written by H.J.Stevenson and sent to the Scotsman newspaper in 1937.     In it, he claims that he spoke in 1923 to a to Rugby School representatives of the Centenary of the 'Carrying Game', and they said that the game had been played at a School in Scotland as early as 1810.

 

The first game played by the FP Club was in 1867 against the Academicals (Accies), but the Club was not formed until the next year when it played its games at Holyrood.      At that time the Club was open, but unfortunately the Rector of the School in 1870 insisted that only FP's would be allowed to play.

In the early years, the Club produced many internationalists, including the honour of having Angus Buchanan in the first international against the Auld Enemy (27th March 1871 at Raeburn Place).   He scored the first ever international try in the victory over England.

 

When the Club moved to Grange Loan it entered one of its purple patches (1881 to 1884), under the Captaincy of Nat Watt.   The team was known as Nat's Lambs, a nickname which did not reflect their style of play as in 1883-84 they lost only one game and were recognised as the Scottish Champions.

The turn of the Century was dominated by the career of Mark Morrison who played for Scotland 23 times, captaining them to a triple crown in 1901 and then captaining the Lions on their tour of South Africa.    This outstanding sporting record led to Mark being posthumously inducted into the SRU Hall of Fame, and also in 2002 into the Scottish Sporting Hall of fame.

 

In common with other Clubs, there was no play during the First World War.   Thanks to the efforts of J. Hume and 'Podger' Laing who played for Scotland before and after the War, the Club was revived with games against Stewartonians and Heriotonians.    The War Memorial was the purchase of Jock's Lodge for £1000, so the Club moved on to its eighth ground.

 

The second purple patch was in the 1930's under the Captaincy of W.D. Emslie, an international stand off, when crowds of 2000 were experienced.    A three season spell of fast open rugby culminated in 1933-34 when the team shared the unofficial championship with Hillhead.    In 1935 Peter Tait had mixed emotions when he received two postcards in one week, one selecting him for the Club seconds and the other for Scotland versus England !

Following instructions from the SRU, no official games were played during the Second World War.    The Club still managed to play over 100, using players on home leave supplemented by School boys.

Normal play was resumed in 1946-47 before the Club had another few successful seasons, particularly in 1951-52 under the Captaincy of Alec Harper when they were runners-up in the unofficial championship.   Two now famous characters, Tom McGlashan and Jimmy Dignall played often and well during this period, Jim eventually passing P.W. Tait's record number of games.  

 

In 1972, after an expensive visit to the courts, the Club returned to its original open status.   Life continued as normal with the curate's egg, the occasional good seasons including Pringle Fisher in 1962-63, Eric Ireland in 1963-64 and Gerry McCosh in 1976-77.

 

Two City Council decisions adversely affected the Club.    Firstly the decision to build the new school not beside Jock's Lodge but at Barnton, and subsequently the withdrawal of the City's annual grant to Jock's Lodge.    These two decisions ultimately resulted in the sale of Jock's Lodge, and the move to Barnton where the money was used to build a pavilion, all weather playing surface and a bowling rink.

 

When the new Scottish League structure was implemented in 1975, the Club was placed in the First Division, but after a protest from Boroughmuir were relegated without playing a game.    Life in the leagues was basically a downward spiral with few exceptions.   Promotions included Robin Ford's 1978-79 team to the Second Division, Roy Ross's 1981-82 team  to the First Division, and Alan Wardrop's 1989-90 to the Second Division after a sharp decline in the 1980's.     The decline was due in no small part to the erosion of talented School pupils to senior clubs to enhance their playing careers.   Several were successful in gaining international honours.

On the 9th March 2002 B.J. Scott played his 400th first team game, still a little short of Hugh MacKenzie's estimated 750 games in all teams and garbs for the black and whites.

 

2003-04 found the team in the third Division of the National Leagues, and struggling to survive.   An approach from Corstorphine was welcomed as many Club members concurred that there were too many clubs chasing a shrinking pool of players.   A strong club in the west of the City seemed to be a logical solution.   As a result, the highly mobile Royal High School FP Rugby Football Club, founded in 1867, and having played at nine grounds in its 134 years, returned to Union Park in Corstorphine as RHC (Royal High Corstorphine), the ground where in 1912 they had installed a bath in the pavilion for the princely sum of £5.10s.

 

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International Players

 

This most important category is prefaced by an introduction, and includes a full list and photographs of all international players.

The club has produced 26 international players who have been capped on 210 occasions by Scotland.   Those players capped in the 19th century and in the pre 1914 – 1918 period had only a few opportunities to play for their country in comparison  with opportunities open to players in the recent past. .This difference in the number of matches makes Mark Morrison's 23 caps all the more amazing.

A large percentage of the total High School caps were won by three players; Mark Morrison with 23, J. Pringle Fisher with 20 and Ivan Tukalo with 37.   It must be remembered that J. Hume and A. D. Laing’s total of 7 each were won before and after the 1914-1918  War.

The Club has produced 4 Scottish captains.   W.R.Gibson  on one occasion, Mark C. Morrison 15 times, J Hume 3 times and J. Pringle Fisher with 9.    As always Mark Morrison was the most successful.  He was the first Scottish captain to win three matches against England and remains the only one to win three Calcutta Cups.    His record of nine victories, two Triple Crowns and three championships over five seasons remains a record that none of his successors have come close to matching.   Pringle Fisher did however captain Scotland on nine occasions and also played in their sole 'success' against the All Blacks - the 0-0 draw in 1964.    Six of his caps were from he Club, while the balance were from London Scottish.

There is also a group of players, listed ,who played for a Scottish XV  in games that the S.R.U. did not award caps.

W. A. Gunn, J. Hume, South Africa 1912

J. Hume   France 1912, 1920, 1921

W. A. Ferguson  Waratahs  1927

A.V. Orr  Argentine 1969

B. Laidlaw  Argentine 1969

The Australian R.U. retrospectively declared the Waratahs Tour an Australian Tour and awarded caps to all who played against the Home Counties.    Perhaps the S.R.U. could make a similar magnanimous gesture!

It is also possible to argue that the group of High Scholars who were international reserves would have become capped players under the current laws which allows substitutes. That would have meant in recent times G. Gramhamslaw and J. Blake may have become capped players.

There are two interesting stories concerning High School internationalists which feature in Sandy Thorburn's History.    In the 1880-81 season the by-passing of A.G (Gordon) Petrie as captain of the Scottish XV led to a spell of furious disagreement between the Clubs and the Union, followed by an uneasy truce. Until finally at the A.G. M. there was a complete sweep of Union Office-Bearers and Petrie found  himself elected  President.    Petrie played on eight consecutive occasions against England.

Angus Buchanan was a member of the first Scottish XV, and is credited with scoring the first try in an international game - against England at Raeburn Place on the 27th March 1871.

J.P.Veitch was selected to play for Scotland against Ireland in the 1886 season but decided to give up his cap so he could tour with the club and play against Halifax on the 20th February 1886.    He was selected for the next game against England!

Other players to be capped only by clubs other than RHSFP RFC included Colin Telfer (Hawick) and Gordon Hunter (Selkirk).    The latest to join this category is Ben Cairns (leaving year 2003) whose debut was in Scotland's victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires on 14th June 2008.

 

 

 

List of Full Internationalists

 

With the exception of A Buchanan, these players were all enrolled at the Royal High School and appeared in the FP XV.    On several occasions, all in the 19th Century, their were three High School FP players in the same international side.    Click Photographs to see images of the Internationalists.

 

A Buchanan   1   E 1871         J. Hume   7   E   1921      
A Wood   3   E 1873, 74,75                 I   1921      
W St C Grant   2   E 1873, 74   Craigmount             W   1921      
A.G. Petrie   11   E 1873 - 1880                 F   1912, 20-22      
        I 1877, 79, 80         A.D. Laing   7   E   1914      
N.T. Brewis   6   E 1876, 78,79,80                 I   1914, 20      
        I 1879, 80   Edin Inst FP             W   1914, 20      
W.H. Masters   3   E 1880   Edin Inst FP             F   1920, 21      
        I 1879-80         E. McLaren   5   E   1923      
J.P. Veitch   7   E 1882, 84, 86                 I   1923      
        I 1883, 84,85                 W   1923      
G.R. Wilson   5   E 1886, 90                 F   1923, 24      
        I 1890, 91         W.G.Ferguson   5   E   1928      
        W 1890                 I   1928      
A. Duke   6   I 1888, 89, 90                 W   1928      
        W 1888, 89, 90                 F   1928      
WA. McDonald   3   E 1892   Glasgow Univ             NSW   1927      
        I 1892         W.D. Emslie   2   F   1930      
        W 1889                 I   1932      
I. McIntyre   6   E 1890, 91   Wanderers     J. Park   1   W   1934      
        I 1890, 91         P.W. Tait   1   E   1935      
        W 1890, 91         W.M. Penman   1   I   1939   RAF  
W.R. Gibson   14   E 1891-95         D.I. McLean   2   E   1947      
        I 1891-95                 I   1947      
        W 1892-95         TPL McGlashan   8   E   1947, 54      
R.S. Davidson   1   E 1893                 I   1947, 54      
H.F. Menzies   4   E 1894   West of Scot             W   1954      
        I 1893                 F   1947, 54      
        W 1893, 94                 NZ   1954      
J.W. Simpson   13   E 1893-95, 97,99         E.H. Henriksen   1   I   1953      
        I 1893-96         J.A. Nichol   3   E   1955      
        W 1894-96, 99                 I   1955      
M.C. Morrison   23     see record                 W   1955      
A.M. Butcher   1   E 1897   Edin. Acads.     J.P. Fisher   25   E   1963-68      
A.Ross   5   E 1905                 I   1964-68      
        I 1905, 09                 W   1964-68      
        W 1905, 09                 F   1964-68      
GA Sanderson   4   E 1907                 NZ   1964, 67      
        I 1907, 08                 SA   1965