EKRFC History

East Kilbride Rugby Football Club was formed in 1968. The club first started off playing games in the grounds at Hairmyres Hospital, and socialising in the Stuart Hotel. We moved to Torrance House in September 1970 and have been here ever since - in what is now called Calderglen Country Park - as one of the largest sections in the East Kilbride Sports Club.

EKRFC started off in the 2nd Division of the Glasgow and District League in the early 1970's, gaining promotion to National Division 7 in 1976. We rose steadily through the National Leagues, reaching and playing in Premier Division 2 for three years during which time we almost secured promotion to Premier 1.

We were relegated to Premier 3 in 2001/02 where we stayed until April 2006 when we were relegated to National Division 1. A spell in the West Regional league then saw us promoted to National 1 but relegation in 2015/16 sees us back in West Regional 1.

Throughout this period, there has been a wide range of success, and some superb individual player achievement.

Every Sunday morning, our Mini rugby boys and girls aged from 8 to 12 turn out to train and play games against other Mini teams (home and away).

The Junior rugby section with teams at S1(Under 13), S2(Under 14s), Under 15s, Under 16s and Under 18s level train/play on Sundays.

At senior level, the Club runs two teams playing in league rugby.

School rugby has also been a key element in the overall plan, with both Duncanrig and Calderglen High (once called Claremont) helping many fine players continue to develop.

The Club is always on the look out for more players, at all levels but particularly at junior level, so if you want to give rugby a "try" (excuse the pun), please get in touch with one of the key contacts listed below.

Play international rugby via East Kilbride.....

Alasdair Strokosch......EKRFC has proved that you can reach the highest levels in Scottish Rugby by playing for EK. There is no better example than Alasdair Strokosch who played at all levels of rugby in EK, starting with the Minis, and won 47 caps for Scotland (retiring in 2015). He won his first cap in November 2006 against Australia. While with EK, he played at Under 16, U18, U19 and later U21 and seven a sides for Scotland as he rose through the ranks. He played professionally for Edinburgh Gunners, before transferring to Gloucester. Alasdair is currently playing for French side Perpignan.

Other successful players have included Colin Stewart, who also came through from Mini rugby to play professionally for Glasgow and then the Borders professional teams, before moving to play in England. He currently plays in Plymouth in England.

Current youngsters with aspirations are: Paul Caircross, who captained Scotland Under 16s as a prop and wasin the Scotland Under 18 squad as hooker. While, most recently, second row Matthew Fletcher is in the Scotland under 16s team.

EKRFC has produced lots of other players who have won national, regional and district honours, too many to mention here.

EKRFC has also had a good deal of Cup success over the years, including the Lanarkshire Cup, the New Town Sevens Cup, the Thames Polytechnic International Tournament.

Playing at Murrayfield is every player's dream and EKRFC players have done this four times, in winning the Murrayfield Cup in 1981 and 1983, and more recently savouring success at HQ in May 2000 by winning the BT Cellnet Shield when they beat local rivals Glasgow Southern 27-17. They narrowly missed another taste of Cup glory at Murrayfield in May 2007 when they lost 18-11 to Morgan Academy FP.

EKRFC enjoy competitive rugby but always find time for the social side as well. We first visited Chalons sur Champagne (previously called Chalons sur Marne) in France in 1981. We have been playing and socialising with each other ever since. 2010 saw the 30th visit between the clubs, while 2011 saw Chalons celebrate their centenary, with EKRFC's help.

So whether you are interested in playing, training, refereeing or simply supporting EKRFC, please feel welcome to come along to the Sports Club or contact:

Bruce Beggans, President: 07427166626;
email: president@ekrfc.co.uk

Allan Steel, Head Coach (seniors): 07825604415;

Robert MacKinnon, Academy Director 07787998696;
email: robertmackinnon@sky.com