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Rumors abound of Aviva Premiership sides showing interest in coming to the United States to play matches. Meanwhile, a club in the English Greene King IPA Championship, also known as the RFU Championship, is looking to take another route into the American market.
London Scottish have announced an initiative that is targeting Americans of Scottish decent. The initial goal of their project is to build a Tartan Army of American supporters with the end goal of using the added support to propel the Exiles into the Aviva Premiership.
The Scots have a rich rugby history dating back to their founding in 1878. At one time they were among the top clubs in England before financial woes saw the club demoted eight divisions in 1999 after their first season in the English Premiership. The club has since earned promotion in seven of the last 11 seasons and sit on the cusp of competing for promotion into the Premiership.
The Exiles earned promotion into the RFU Championship in the 2011/2012 season and finished 12th in their first season. During the 2012/2013 season the club returned to full time professional status and moved up the table to 8th place. In 2013/2014 the club made a big leap up to 5th place on the back of a 14-9 record and just missed out on reaching the playoffs. The Exiles finished 3rd in the RFU Championship last season with a record of 12-8-2. Having finished in the Top 4, they made it to the playoffs where they were defeated by eventual champs Worcester in the semifinals.
With a higher finish in the Championship each of the past four seasons, there is little room left at the top of the table. The Exiles will face stiff competition from Bristol during the 2015/2016 season. Bristol, whom many had tapped for promotion, was surprisingly toppled in the Championship finals by Worcester.
Former London Scottish, Scotland and British & Irish Lions Captain, Gavin Hastings, has backed the initiative.
Hastings, now a London Scottish ambassador, said in a release from the club, “I think this new membership scheme is a fantastic concept and I am right behind the idea of telling the London Scottish story to a brand new audience in America. London Scottish is a club rich in history and tradition which I’m sure will appeal to many American Scots.”
The London Scottish have had some American ties in recent years. Current USA 7s Head Coach Mike Friday served as their Director of Rugby last year while current Eagle 2nd rower Tai Tuisamoa spent the 2014/2015 season playing for the Exiles. Eagle prop Eric Fry also played for the club during the 2013/2014 season.
To learn more about the American Friends of London Scottish, please go to their website.
