Struth hails 150th anniversary history project

22 Sep 2022

Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director Douglas Struth has hailed the club’s 150th anniversary project with today’s unveiling allowing Edinburgh to 'pay tribute to every player that has worn the castle on their chest.'

Edinburgh today unveiled a project two years in the making, with every player and match identified and categorised since the inaugural inter-city derby in 1872, against Glasgow Warriors (then Glasgow District) at Burnbank – the first of its kind in world rugby.

“We’re hugely excited to launch this detailed history project as we kickstart the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations,” said Struth.

“A massive amount of work has gone into this project to get it to the point of completion and it’s brilliant that we’re able to recognise and pay tribute to every player that has worn the castle on their chest.

“We’ve always talked about the rich history of rugby in Edinburgh – from 1872, the Inter-District Championships and taking down European giants such as Toulouse and Toulon in the professional era – and this project now provides a clear timeline for all that we’ve achieved as a club.”

The details of the club’s extensive history are now housed on the club’s 150th anniversary history page, accompanied by an acknowledgement of all known captains, with capped internationalists and British & Irish Lions to follow later in the year.

“This is a project of pride and passion designed to help everyone associated with Edinburgh Rugby recognise and celebrate the contribution these players, their clubs and schools have made over the past century-and-a-half, and better connect those throughout our history with those taking to the field today,” continued Struth.

“We’ve always known and been proud of the many greats who have represented Edinburgh over the decades but our ability to celebrate those years fully and develop a deeper sense of meaning or belonging through those eras has always been unfulfilled.”

Douglas Struth

“It’s been a significant undertaking, with the information often hard to come by and even contradictory, however we’re delighted we can recognise all those who have been part of Edinburgh Rugby for a century and a half, tell some of the great stories unearthed throughout this process and celebrate this amazing anniversary of the club and 1872 Cup.

“Tickets to this year’s special and decisive BT Murrayfield leg of the 1872 Cup derby will go on sale next month, and we’d encourage everyone to join us at what will be a unique moment in history and, of course, a great contest between world rugby’s oldest inter-city rivals.”