The 1953–54 Scottish Inter-District Championship was a

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

competition for Scotland's district teams. This season saw the first formal

Scottish Inter-District Championship The Scottish Inter-District Championship is a rugby union competition between regional sides in Scotland. Established in 1953, the tournament went through several formats. The Scottish Rugby Union confirmed in January 2023 that the Scottish In ...

. The district sides selected were Glasgow District, Edinburgh District,

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography. Etymology T ...

and

South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

. The

Midlands The Midlands (also referred to as Central England) are a part of England that broadly correspond to the Kingdom of Mercia of the Early Middle Ages, bordered by Wales, Northern England and Southern England. The Midlands were important in the Ind ...

district was not represented. Instead their players were selected in the formation of the

side. This was the only season that

played in the

complained to the

Scottish Rugby Union The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU; gd, Aonadh Rugbaidh na h-Alba) is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. Styled as Scottish Rugby, it is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873. The SRU oversees the national league s ...

that despite having several players selected in the North of Scotland side they had no recognition for this. The SRU agreed and in subsequent seasons the combined team was known as

North and Midlands North and Midlands - and now known as Caledonia - is a select provincial amateur rugby union team that draws its players mainly from north of Scotland, roughly corresponding from around Stirling northwards. Historically the North and Midlands te ...

in the Inter-District tournament. The case for rugby substitutes was raised after the Glasgow - Edinburgh inter-city match when Glasgow's star player Angus Cameron left the field injured. Not only did this hamper Glasgow by playing with a man short, but their players complained that their selection chances to the national team were impaired by then being forced to play unfamiliar positions to cover the loss. Edinburgh District won the inaugural competition with a maximum three wins.

1953-54 League Table

Results

Round 1

Edinburgh District: D. H. Crighton (Watsonians), D. M. Scott (Watsonians), R. G. Baird (Watsonians), Tommy McClung (Edinburgh Academicals),
Grant Weatherstone (

Stewart's College FP Stewart's College FP RFC was a Scottish rugby union club in Edinburgh. Founded The club was founded in 1875, when a match took place between the former pupils of Daniel Stewart's Hospital and George Watson's College. In 1887, the club became ...

Jim Davidson James Cameron Davidson (born 13 December 1953) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, singer and TV presenter. He hosted the television shows '' Big Break'' and ''The Generation Game''. He also developed two adult pantomime shows such as ''B ...

(Edinburgh University), A. D. Thomson (Heriots F.P),
R. D. S. Munro (Leith Academicals),

Norman Mair Norman George Robertson Mair (7 October 1928 – 7 December 2014) was a Scottish international rugby union and cricket player.Bath, p105 He later became a journalist for ''The Scotsman'' reporting on rugby and golf,McLaren, p88 and also wro ...

(Edinburgh University), F. McLachlan (Edinburgh Wanderers),
R. A. Cadzow (Edinburgh Wanderers), H. L. McKill (Watsonians), W. S. Glen (Edinburgh Wanderers), S. T. H. Wright (Stewart's College F.P),

Douglas Elliot Douglas Elliot (18 April 1923 – 12 March 2005) also known as W.I.D. Elliot and Doug(ie) Elliot was a Scottish international rugby union player, who played for .Massie, p.185 He was six feet three inches and over fourteen stone.Massie, p.18 ...

(Edinburgh Academicals)
South: A. D. Little (Selkirk), S. S. Cowan (Selkirk), J. Cowan (Selkirk), Robin Charters (Hawick), J. Hume (Kelso),
J. M. Maxwell (Langholm), J. Wright (Hawick), L. Hastie (Kelso), Jock King ( Selkirk), Jimmie Johnston ( Melrose),
J. J. Hegarty (Hawick), A. Robson (Hawick), J. Grant (Hawick). G. K. Smith (Kelso)

Round 2

South: R. Chisholm (Melrose), W. R. Scott (Hawick), S. S. Cowan (Selkirk), Les Allan ( Melrose), R. W. Notman (Jedforest),
J. M. Maxwell (Langholm), J. Wright (Hawick), Bob Wilson (

Gala Gala may refer to: Music * ''Gala'' (album), a 1990 album by the English alternative rock band Lush *'' Gala – The Collection'', a 2016 album by Sarah Brightman *GALA Choruses, an association of LGBT choral groups *''Gala'', a 1986 album by T ...

) (captain), J. Telford (Langholm), Jim Inglis ( Selkirk), J. J. Hegarty (Hawick),
Jimmie Johnston ( Melrose), A. Robson (Hawick), D. M. Brown (Melrose), G. K. Smith (Kelso)
Glasgow District: D. McIntyre (Glasgow HSFP), R. D. Unkles (Glasgow HSFP), Allan Cameron ( Hillhead High School F.P.) (captain),

Donald Cameron Donald Cameron may refer to: Scottish Clan Cameron * Donald Cameron of Lochiel (c. 1695 or 1700–1748), 19th Chief, and his descendants: ** Donald Cameron, 22nd Lochiel (1769–1832), 22nd Chief ** Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905), Scott ...

(

Glasgow HSFP Glasgow HSFP are a former rugby union team that played their home games at Glasgow, Scotland. The team was founded in 1884 by former pupils of the High School of Glasgow. The team no longer exists. In 1982 it merged with the Kelvinside Academi ...

), G. N. McKenzie (Greenock Wanderers), I. Cameron (Jordanhill School F.P.), A.A.W. Waddell (Glasgow Academicals), R. A. Brechin (Glasgow Academicals), J. Cassells (Greenock Wanderers), J. C. Dawson (Glasgow Academicals),

Hamish Kemp James William Young Kemp, known as Hamish Kemp, (13 February 1933 in Glasgow – 5 June 2002 in Glasgow)
at scru ...

(

), A. Gilchrist (West of Scotland), J. D. Rollo (Glasgow HSFP),

Percy Friebe Percy Friebe (born 9 May 1931) is a former Scotland international rugby union player. Friebe played as a No. 8. Rugby union career Amateur career Friebe played for Glasgow HSFP. He also played for Worcester Warriors, Moseley and the RAF ru ...

(

), J. L. Blackwood (Glasgow Academicals)

Round 3

North: W. Thomson (St. Andrews University), E. H. Cruickshank (Aberdeen GSFP), P. G. Younie (Aberdeen Wanderers), A. R. Pate (Highland),
D. J. McPherson (Gordonians), J. M. Anderson (St. Andrews University), W. D. Allerdice (Aberdeen GSFP) (captain), A. A. Tullett (Gordonians),
A. S. Hay (Perthshire Academicals), F. H. More (Perthshire Academicals), C. D. Mowat (Aberdeen GSFP), J. R. Andrew (Harris F.P.),
J. Greenwood (Dunfermline), K. J. Donaldson (Perthshire Academicals), J. K. Mearns (Panmure)
Edinburgh District: D. H. Crighton (Royal HSFP), I. W. Nicoll (Royal HSFP), L. B. Mackenzie (Royal HSFP), G. T. Ross (Watsonians), Grant Weatherstone (

(Edinburgh University), G. S. Morgan (Melville F. P.), T. A. Herdman (Melville F. P.),

(Edinburgh University), F. McLachlan (Edinburgh Wanderers), R. A. Cadzow (Edinburgh Wanderers), H. L. McKill (Watsonians),
W. S. Glen (Edinburgh Wanderers), S. T. H. Wright (Stewart's F. P.),

(Edinburgh Academicals) (captain)

Round 4

Glasgow District: Angus Cameron (

), A. M. Smith (Glasgow University), Allan Cameron ( Hillhead HSFP),
A. S. Headrick (Glasgow Academicals), A. G. Campbell (Kelvinside Academicals),

(

),
A. A. W. Waddell (Glasgow Academicals), F. I. Hogarth (West of Scotland), J. Cassells (Greenock Wanderers),
J.C. Dewar (Glasgow Academicals),

Hamish Kemp James William Young Kemp, known as Hamish Kemp, (13 February 1933 in Glasgow – 5 June 2002 in Glasgow)
at scru ...

(

), I. A. A. McGregor ( Hillhead HSFP), J. D. Rollo (Glasgow HSFP),
M. Chisholm (Glasgow HSFP), R. C. Taylor (Kelvinside Academicals) (captain)
North: W. Thomson (St. Andrews University), K. M. Cruickshank (Aberdeen GSFP), P. J. Younie (Aberdeen Wanderers),
J. H. Meldrum (Kirkcaldy), D. J. McPherson (Gordonians), A. R. Pate (Highland), W. D. Allardice (Aberdeen GSFP), (captain), A. A. Tullet (Gordonians), C. W. Bravin (Dunfermline), F. H. Moore (Perthshire Academicals),
C. D. Mowat (Aberdeen GSFP), D. N. Georgeson (Aberdeen GSFP), J. Greenwood (Dunfermline), K. J. Donaldson (Perthshire Academicals),
A. I. Cheyne (Aberdeen University)

Round 5

North: W. Thomson (St. Andrews University) (captain), E. H. Cruickshank (Aberdeen GSFP), P. J. Younie (Aberdeen Wanderers),
A. M. Nicoll (Harris Academy F. P), D. J. McPherson (Gordonians), F. J. Whitehurst (St. Andrews University), W. D. Allardice (Aberdeen GSFP),
A. A. Tullett (Gordonians), C. W. Bravin (Dunfermline), F. H. Moore (Perthshire Academicals), C. D. Mowat (Aberdeen GSFP),
D. N. Georgeson (Aberdeen GSFP), J. Greenwood (Dunfermline),

Ernie Michie Ernest James Stewart Michie (7 November 1933 – 13 November 2021) was a Scottish international rugby union player, who played for and the Lions.Godwin, p282 He played at LockMcLaren, p81 and his nickname was "Fourteen". He weighed 14 stone. R ...

(

Aberdeen University , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

), J. K. Mearns (Panmure)
South: J. R. McCredie (Hawick), R. B. Notman (Jedforest), Robin Charters (Hawick), Les Allan ( Melrose) (captain), S. S. Cowan (Selkirk), J. M. Maxwell (Langholm), A. F. Dorward (Gala), H. McLeod (Hawick), Jock King ( Selkirk), Jim Inglis ( Selkirk), J. J. Hegarty (Hawick), T. Elliot (Gala), A. Robson (Hawick), D. M. Brown (Melrose), G. K. Smith (Kelso)

Round 6

Glasgow District: Angus Cameron (

), A. G. Campbell (Kelvinside Academicals),

(

),
Allan Cameron ( Hillhead HSFP), T. E. S. Ferguson ( Hillhead HSFP), J. A. Ferguson ( Hillhead HSFP) (captain),
A. A. W. Waddell (Glasgow Academicals), J. D. Rollo (Glasgow HSFP), J. Cassells (Greenock Wanderers), J. C. Dawson (Glasgow Academicals),

Hamish Kemp James William Young Kemp, known as Hamish Kemp, (13 February 1933 in Glasgow – 5 June 2002 in Glasgow)
at scru ...

(

), W. F. Morton (West of Scotland),

(

), J. L. Blackwood (Glasgow Academicals)
Edinburgh District: D. H. Crighton (Watsonians), Grant Weatherstone (

), K. R. McDonald (

(Edinburgh University), Donald Scott (

Watsonians Watsonian Football Club is a rugby union club based in Edinburgh and part of the Scottish Rugby Union. The club is connected with George Watson's College as a club for former pupils, and changed its policy in the 1980s to be a fully open club, ...

), G. T. Ross (Watsonians), J. R. Glen (Edinburgh Wanderers),
T. P. L. McGlashan (Royal High School F.P),

(Edinburgh University), F. McLachlan (Edinburgh Wanderers),
H. L. McKill (Watsonians), R. A. Cadzow (Edinburgh Wanderers), J. S. Ure (Edinburgh Wanderers), S. T. H. Wright (

(Edinburgh Academicals) (captain)

Outwith the Championship

Renfrewshire:
Ayrshire:

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1953-54 Scottish Inter-District Championship 1953–54 in Scottish rugby union Scottish Inter-District Championship seasons