Sport in Scotland

Sport in Scotland

Rugby

Although more popular in England than Scotland, rugby is still quite the rage in the southern half, especially in the Borders region. Like Football (soccer), rugby emerged from the many traditional "football" games played throughout the British Isles. These included Jeddart Ball and Ba Game, the latter of which is a mob or village game where the resident of a village (such as Kirkwall, where it is still played during the holidays) play throughout the village.

Ba Game in Kirkwall. The initial ball toss up

The Ba Game in action

 The first Scottish rugby team was formed in Edinburgh in 1857. The first international match was also in Edinburgh against England in 1871. The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) was formed in 1873 in Glasgow, which today oversees all organized rugby in Scotland. Traditionally an amateur sport, it has become professionalized in the last 15 years.

The main league is the Scottish Hydro Electric League Championship, which consists of a Premiere League (36 teams), National League, and Regional league. And as with football (see previous post), the teams are promoted and relegated between the leagues each year. Included are the Edinburgh Academicals (Scotland's first team) and the Glasgow Hawks.

While England has a better track record, Scotland plays in every Rugby World Cup.

Scotland's national rugby team

Golf

Perhaps Scotland's most famous indigenous sport. The earliest mention of the sport is in 1457 (the Leith Links). The oldest golf course is the world-famous St. Andrew's Old Course.

While places such as China and Holland claim it as their creation, most of the terms and rules associated with golf (also a Scottish word) originated with the Scottish. These include:
Links (1453)
Golf club (1503)
Gold ball (1545)
Drive (1583)
Tee (1721)
Putt (1743)
Caddy (1773)
Even the golf cap, plaid pants and other clothing associated with golf are Scottish in origins. The world golf authority (aside from the US) is housed in Scotland.

Tiger Woods at St. Andrew's Old Course

Shinty

Similar to field hockey, but with tackling. A traditional Scottish Highland game, it evolved in North America into ice hockey when Highlanders immigrated to Nova Scotia in Canada (where informal games are still called shinny). It is still played today. For more, see here.

American Football

Yes, you read that right. American rule football has been growing in popularity in Scotland in recent years. Scotland even had a professional team in the NFL Europe (which ran from the 1980s to 2007) -- the Scottish Claymores (the name refers to a traditional Scottish sword). Started in 1995, the Claymores played in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and competed in two World Bowls, winning one. Local football teams are still active in Scotland.

The Scottish Claymores

Cricket

Huge in England, which is one of ten major cricket-playing nations, but Scotland is not one of them. However, it is very popular in the Borders region. The 1999 Cricket World Cup was hosted in Scotland.

Baseball

The descendent of Cricket, American Baseball (which was not invented by Abner Doubleday, but rather had its origins in 18th Century Britain) has been growing in popularity in Scotland since it was introduced in the 1930s by US service men.

Base-ball in Britain in 1744

The Scottish Baseball League began in 1988, and includes the Edinburgh Diamond Devils.