Scottish rugby union system
Domestic club rugby union within Scotland remains a predominantly amateur sport; however, semi-professional and professional outfits have been created in recent decades to participate in cross-border competitions.
With the advent of professionalism in 1995 the Scottish Rugby Union, just like the Irish Rugby Football Union, decided that existing club sides would be unable to compete with their counterparts in new cross-border tournaments such as the European Cup and Celtic League. It was decided by the Scottish Rugby Union that new professional teams would be created based on the union's four historic geographical districts and building upon the legacy/vehicle of the Scottish Inter-District Championship:
The North and Midlands side was a de facto district based on the combination of The North and Midlands districts.
The Scottish League Championship is the annual, domestic league structure competed for by over 150 clubs at both national and regional levels. Restructuring before the 2014-15 season scrapped the regional Championship A & B leagues which sat below the National League for two seasons. The current structure is:
Level
League(s)/Division(s)
1
Scottish Premiership
(BT Premiership)
10 clubs – 1 relegation, 1 relegation play-off spot
2
Scottish National League Division One
(BT National League Division 1)
12 clubs – 1 promotion, 1 promotion play-off, 2 relegation spots
3
Scottish National League Division Two
(BT National League Division 2)
12 clubs – 2 promotion, 2 relegation spots
...
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