London Scottish
London Scottish are a men's rugby club founded in 1878 who play in the Champ Rugby (Championship) (Tier 2). Their home ground is The Athletic Ground, which holds 4,500.
Last updated May 2026
Key facts
| Founded | 1878 |
|---|---|
| League | Champ Rugby (Championship) |
| Tier | Tier 2 |
| Head coach | Bryan Redpath |
| Home ground | Richmond Athletic Ground (The Athletic Ground) |
| Capacity | 4,500 |
| Nearest station | Richmond |
| Local derby | Richmond |
| Matchday pub | Clubhouse bar at Richmond Athletic Ground |
| Official website | https://londonscottish.com/ |
Club history
London Scottish FC was founded on Wednesday 10 April 1878 at Mackay's Tavern on Water Lane Ludgate Hill by Scottish expats led by George Grant Neil Macglashan and Robert Arnot.
The club moved to the Richmond Athletic Ground in 1894 and still groundshares there with Richmond FC today.
London Scottish made their only English Premiership appearance in the 1998-99 season.
The professional club was placed into administration in 1999 and was nominally merged with London Irish before reforming and rebuilding through the lower leagues.
Recent seasons
London Scottish finished 11th in the 2022-23 RFU Championship with 26 points after avoiding relegation the previous season.
The club entered a partnership with Premiership side Harlequins ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Bryan Redpath was installed as director of rugby with Joe Gray as head coach ahead of 2022-23.
London Scottish finished 13th in the 2024-25 RFU Championship and were scheduled to contest a relegation play-off alongside Richmond before league expansion saved them.
Notable players
Club legends
- Alan Lawson
- Gavin Hastings
- Charlie Hodgson
- Mark Appleson
Current squad
- Harry Clayton
- Osman Dimen
- Jack Leslie
- Matt Gribbon
- Fraser Honey
Turning London Scottish footage into insight
Every match London Scottish play holds a goldmine of detail. Framesports turns rugby footage into the analytics that actually matter and data that builds smarter game plans, collected by analysts and checked by humans. See how it works on the Framesports features page.
Frequently asked questions
When were London Scottish founded?
London Scottish were founded in 1878.
Where do London Scottish play?
London Scottish play at The Athletic Ground, which holds 4,500. The nearest station is Richmond.
What league do London Scottish play in?
London Scottish compete in the Champ Rugby (Championship), tier 2 of English rugby's league structure.
Who are London Scottish's local rivals?
London Scottish's local derby is against Richmond.
Who is the London Scottish head coach?
London Scottish are coached by Bryan Redpath.
Other Champ Rugby (Championship) clubs
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