Full name North and Midlands District Founded amateur 1954; 63 years ago (1954)
professional 1996; 21 years ago (1996) | ||
North and Midlands was a select provincial amateur rugby union team that drew its players mainly from north of Scotland, roughly corresponding from around Stirling northwards. Historically the North and Midlands team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.
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Formation
The side was essentially a combined team based on the North of Scotland and the Midlands District. Both were independent districts and played a North v Midlands trial match for selection to the North and Midlands combined team. Both North and Midlands district were merged into one district, now called Caledonia.
Scottish Inter-District Championship
Although the North and Midlands combined team began earlier in periodic matches, it formally began as a de facto district in 1954 - when, 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.
Professionalism
The amateur North and Midlands side evolved into the professional Caledonia Reds side in 1996; one year after rugby union allowed professionalism in 1995.
Honours
It shared the Scottish Inter-District Championship two times:- in 1959 - 60 season (with Edinburgh District and South); and in 1974 -75 season (with Glasgow District).
Scottish Inter-District Championship
Although Midlands players were used in North's side in 1953-54, there was no formal recognition in that season. Following an upheld complaint by Midlands to the SRU, the renamed side North and Midlands competed in the 1954-55 championship onwards.
For North and Midlands professional championship results from 1996 see Caledonia Reds.