Edinburgh Rugby nominated for three awards at the 2026 Scottish Event Awards

29 Apr 2026

Edinburgh Rugby has been nominated for three awards at the 2026 Scottish Event Awards, with the club's flagship 1872 Cup, Community and Engagement Team, and Events Lead Isla Simpson all recognised across three separate categories.

The Scottish Event Awards celebrate the creativity, passion and innovation shaping Scotland’s event landscape – and this year, Edinburgh Rugby features prominently on the shortlist.

Best Sporting Event: The 1872 Cup

The 1872 Cup has been nominated in the Best Sporting Event category, with December’s clash at Scottish Gas Murrayfield recognised as one of Scotland’s most iconic sporting occasions.

Rugby’s oldest rivalry has grown into a true festive showpiece, now regularly attracting more than 40,000 spectators and firmly establishing itself as one of the highlights of Edinburgh’s winter calendar. It’s a tag the club is proud to own.

The full shortlist also includes the 2025 scottishathletics EAP Indoor International, Lloyds Tour of Britain Women 2025 – Glasgow, and the Orkney 2025 International Island Games.

Impact Award: Edinburgh Rugby Community and Engagement Team

Edinburgh Rugby’s Community and Engagement Team have been nominated for the Impact Award in recognition of the club’s work in the heart of the community.

Central to that recognition is the club’s Tackle Series – Tackle Maths, Tackle Science, and Tackle Nutrition – a collection of programmes that use the power of sport to make learning more engaging and accessible.

This season, Tackle Maths surpassed 1,000 students, a milestone that underlines just how much rugby can matter beyond the pitch.

Also nominated in this category are the OSCE Clinical Assessment Programme, Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025, and Welcome Brain Consulting, Seren Events and EICC.

Rising Star: Isla Simpson

Edinburgh Rugby’s own Isla Simpson has been shortlisted for the Rising Star award.

As the club’s Events Lead, Isla has been at the forefront of organising the club’s fixtures and events throughout the 2025/26 season – including the 1872 Cup at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Her nomination is a deserved recognition of the work that goes on behind the scenes to deliver the experiences our supporters and partners have come to expect.

Isla is shortlisted alongside Alistair Stewart, Caitlin Watt, and Emma Paden.