Queen Margaret University RFC

Queen Margaret University RFC is a rugby union club based in Musselburgh, Scotland. The club operates a men's team[1] and a women's team.[2] Both currently play in the university leagues.

Queen Margaret University RFC
Full nameQueen Margaret University Rugby Football Club
LocationMusselburgh, Scotland
Ground(s)Inch Park, Edinburgh
Captain(s)Scotland Adam Campbell and Imogen Rose
League(s) Men:  BUCS Scottish men's tier 4
 Women:  BUCS Scottish women's tier 2
2023/24 Men:  Did not compete
 Women:  Did not compete
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.facebook.com/QMUwomensrugby/
Union website
www.facebook.com/QMUmensRugby/

History

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Men’s Rugby

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The 2015/16 Scottish Conference 5A was won in spectacular fashion. Starting off the campaign with a tough 29-20 loss to Dundee and Angus College, the Queen Margaret Men's team bounced back and recorded 3 straight wins. Playing catch-up with Strathclyde 3XV for the majority of the season, QMU secured the league title in dramatic fashion; beating Strathclyde 3XV 35-0 at home and securing the title with a 10-10 draw at home to St Andrews 3XV in the final round of games. With both Queen Margaret and Strathclyde tied at 23 league table points each, QMU took 1st place on account of Points difference.[3]

Pos Team Games
Pld W D L PD TP
1 Queen Margaret 6 4 1 1 +91 23
2 Strathclyde 6 5 0 1 +44 23
3 Glasgow 6 4 0 2 +46 20
4 St Andrews 6 3 1 2 +60 19
5 West of Scotland 6 1 0 5 -145 5
6 Dundee and Angus 6 2 0 4 –1 0
7 GCU 6 1 0 5 –95 -5

The most notable season in recent years for the men’s side would be the 2018/19 season, when they went unbeaten in the Scottish Conference 4A league. Capping off such an achievement with a 43-7 away win to the 4XV of Edinburgh University RFC.[4]

The Men's side train at 6pm-8pm on Mondays and 4pm-6pm on Wednesdays

Women’s Rugby

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The QMU Women's team were established in 2016, when they played a series of friendly matches across the academic year.

Their first ever league games were in the 2017/18 season, when they joined the SRU leagues. Shortly before leaving and joining the BUCS leagues for the 2018/19 season.[5]

In May 2021, the women's side journeyed by foot from Musselburgh to Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh carrying a medical stretcher to raise funds for the Heads for Change charity; and to raise awareness of concussion in rugby union.[6]

The women's side train at 6.45pm to 8.15pm on Mondays at Inch Park.[7]

Varsity

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Every year towards the end of the season, both sides compete in varsity matches against Edinburgh Napier University RFC.[8]

The reason why they play against Napier is due to the similar historic roots that the universities have. Both Institutions started off as colleges that specialised in certain skills, before merging and expanding with several other colleges around Edinburgh across the 20th century. Varsity is used as a way to celebrate the origins of both universities and promote local rivalry in all sports played within their doors.[9][10]

Honours

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  • Scottish Conference 4A[1]
    • Champions (2): 2010–11, 2018–19
  • Scottish Conference 5A[1]
    • Champions (2): 2009–10, 2015–16

Notable former players

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Czechia

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The following former Queen Margaret University RFC players have represented Czechia at senior international level.

Women

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Ireland

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The following former Queen Margaret University RFC players have represented Ireland at senior international level.

Royal Navy

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The following former Queen Margaret University RFC players have represented The Royal Navy in senior rugby.

Former and current club presidents

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Season(s) Name
2024-
Alexander Peden  
2023-2024
Carl Brunslev  
2022-2023
Carl Brunslev  
2021-2022
Cammy Wilson  
2020-2021
Finlay Reith  
2019-2020
Finlay Reith  
2018-2019
Paul Jeffries  
2017-2018
Paul Jeffries  

Women

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Season(s) Name
2024-
Ruth Lawlor  
2023-2024
Rebecca Hinton  
2022-2023
Catherine Birch
2021-2022
Gemma Stoddart  
2020-2021
Aasiyah Patankar  
2019-2020
Inga Krohberger  
2018-2019
Alice Shields  
2018
Kylie Williamson*  
2017-2018
Kirstie Roxburgh  
2016-2017
Kirstie Roxburgh  
Notes
  • * – Kylie stepped in as president mid-season after Kirstie stepped down to commit to university studies.

Former and current club Captains

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Season(s) Name
2024-
Adam Campbell  
2023-2024
John Graham*  
2022-2023
Dan Cournane  
2021-2022
Ryan McDougall  
2020-2021
Calum McKay  
2019-2020
Calum McKay  
2018-2019
James Trigg  
2017-2018
James Trigg  
2016-2017
Kyle Semple**  
2015-2016
Kyle Semple  
2014-2015
Rhys Taylor  
Notes
  • * – John Graham was ruled out of the 2023/24 season, due to an ACL injury. Carl Brunslev replaced him as the role of captain.
  • ** – Club Captains functioned as Club Presidents before the 2017/18 season.

Women

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Season(s) Name
2024-2025
Imogen Rose  
2023-2024
Imogen Rose  
2022-2023
Phoebe Peacock  
2021-2022
Jennifer McVeigh  
2020-2021
Rowann Sinclair  
2019-2020
Selina Keppie  
2018-2019
Inga Krohberger  
2017-2018
Gwen Fitzpatrick  
2016-2017
Gwen Fitzpatrick  

References

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  1. ^ a b c "BUCScore - Queen Margaret University Mens 1st Rugby Union Team". BUCS.
  2. ^ "BUCScore - Queen Margaret University Womens 1st Rugby Union Team". BUCS.
  3. ^ "2015-16". BUCS.org.uk.
  4. ^ "2018/19 league tables". BUCS.org.uk.
  5. ^ "2018/19 league tables Women's Rugby". BUCS.org.uk.
  6. ^ "QMU women's rugby vow that 'no-one is left behind' in stretcher carry charity challenge". Scottish Rugby Union.
  7. ^ "Rugby Women's @ QMUSU". www.qmusu.org.uk.
  8. ^ "Team Napier vs QMU - Varsity Cup 2020". Napier Students union.
  9. ^ "QMU History". QMU.ac.uk.
  10. ^ "Our History". Napier.ac.uk.
  11. ^ "Cimprich Martin". RDJ Sports.
  12. ^ "RWC: Getting To Know Heather O'Brien". Munster Rugby.
  13. ^ "Navy Rugby Falls Short but Cross the Whitewash against British Army". Navy Rugby Union.