North of Scotland District (rugby union)
| Full name | North of Scotland District |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1887 |
North of Scotland was a select provincial amateur rugby union team that drew its players mainly from north of Scotland, roughly corresponding from around Aberdeenshire west and northwards.
Confusingly the name North of Scotland was also used for a larger 'combined district' of the North of Scotland District and the Midlands District.
This lack of recognition for the Midlands District, when the 'North of Scotland' name was used for the combined side, was finally ended in 1978. After this the 'combined district' became known as North and Midlands, although the 'North and Midlands' name was used from 1954 in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
The name of North of Scotland was then only used for the Aberdeenshire and Highland district.
The North of Scotland District was originally formed as the Scottish Northern Counties Football Union in 1887.
The North of Scotland side was traditionally made up from Aberdeenshire and Highland players.
In many instances, especially against touring teams, the North of Scotland District side contained Midlands District players.
The Aberdeenshire and Highland sides would play trial matches to gain selection to the separate North of Scotland side.
Often, the Midland and North Districts played in a trial match against one another to determine selection for the combined North of Scotland side.
Usually the North of Scotland played as a de facto combined side, selecting players not only from the North of Scotland but also those from Midlands District.
Historically the combined North of Scotland team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the first season of the Scottish Inter-District Championship in 1953-54.
This season was the last domestic season where the Midlands received no recognition for their input into the combined North of Scotland side.
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 in subsequent seasons for the domestic tournament.
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