Edinburgh Eagles

Edinburgh Eagles
Club information
Full name Edinburgh Eagles Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s) The Eagles
Founded 1998
Website
Current details
Ground(s)
  • Jack Kane Centre
Chairman Scotland Vacant
Coach Scotland Barry McGuffog
Manager Scotland Andrew McPhail
Captain Scotland Lewis Clarke
Competition Scottish National League
2018 1st
Uniforms
Home colours

Edinburgh Eagles are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The club plays in the Scottish National League (rugby league). The club was founded in 1998. The Eagles have won the Scottish title a record 10 times. Home games have been played at a number of grounds including Corstophine RFC and Broughton RFC they currently play at Jack Kane Centre.

History

The Edinburgh Eagles club was founded in February 1998 and were admitted to the Scottish National League that same year, finishing a very creditable runner-up after losing out to Border Raiders in the final 14-40. The following season saw the club go one better when after defeating fellow Edinburgh side Portobello Playboys in the Grand Final 48-20, they lifted the Scottish title for the first time.[1] The new millennium season started early for the Eagles as they became the first Scottish club to enter the Challenge Cup at the first round stage on 4 December 1999. Defeated by Woolston Rovers by only 12-17 was a remarkable effort. The league campaign didn't end well despite losing just one match during the regular season they got beaten by Glasgow Bulls in the Grand Final 22-47.[2] Revenge was gained the following season when the same two sides met in the final again this time though it was victory for the table toppers 30-16. That victory was the start of a hat-trick of triumphs as they beat Portobello Playboys 46-24 in 2002 and Fife Lions in 2003.[3] It would be three more years before they won the title again, after losing to Fife Lions in the 2004 final they failed to reach the next two finals. There was also three first round exits in the Challenge Cup against Leigh East, Oulton Raiders and Heworth A.R.L.F.C.. Another hat-trick of titles from 2007 was next as they saw off Fife Lions twice and Carluke Tigers in 2009, 18-10 in a game that went to extra-time. In the challenge Cup history was made by the club, when on 25 January 2009 Edinburgh became the first Scottish side to win a game in the historic competition, beating the RAF 18-16. In the second round they lost to Leeds Met University. They would later repeat this feat in 2010 when after knocking out Gloustershire Warriors 36-32 they lost out to Blackwood Bulldogs in the second round. Back in the league Carluke gained revenge by defeating the Eagles in the 2010 final 10-14. 2011 and 2012 would bring the title count up to 9 with victories over Ayrshire Storm 26-10[4] and Aberdeen Warriors 36-10.[5] Following three years out of the Finals the Eagles were runners up in 2017 behind Strathmore Silverbacks however after a 6 year wait 2018 saw the Eagles lift their 10th title with victory over Strathmore Silverbacks on points difference.

Challenge Cup

DateOpponentsRoundH/AScore
4 December 1999Woolston Rovers1RH12-17
1 December 2001Leigh East1RH10-68
30 November 2002Oulton Raiders1RA8-26
30 November 2003Heworth ARLFC1RA8-34
2 February 2008Normanton Knights1RA8-38
25 January 2009RAF1RA18-16
16 February 2009Leeds Met Univ2RA6-20
24 January 2010Gloustershire Warriors1RA36-32
14 February 2010Blackwood Bulldogs2RH16-28
18 February 2012Stanley Rangers1RA12-60

Players earning international caps while at Edinburgh Eagles

The Eagles team has gained international recognition with several of its players being selected: Paddy Coupar, Giles Lomax, Nick Broere, Callum Cockburn, Craig Borthwick, David Lynn, Andrew Todd and John Cox have all come through the ranks of the Edinburgh Napier University Knights, Edinburgh Eagles and Scotland 'A' before going on to represent their country at full International level.

  • Paddy Coupar won 9 caps from 2008 to 2011 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles scoring 1 Try
  • Callum Cockburn won 2 caps in 2011 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles
  • John Cox won 3 caps in 2009 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles scoring 1 try
  • Andy Todd won 2 caps in 2007 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles
  • David Lynn won 2 cap in 2007 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles
  • Giles Lomax won 1 cap in 2011 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles
  • Nick Broere won 1 cap in 2011 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles
  • Craig Borthwick won 1 cap in 2012 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles
  • Thomas Murray was called up to the 2012 Scotland European Cup Squad
  • Dave Vernon was called up to the 2012 Scotland European Cup Squad
  • Lewis Clarke won 2 caps in 2015 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles
  • Finn Murphy was called up to the 2014 and 2015 Scotland European Cup Squad
  • Finlay Hutchinson won 1 cap in 2015 for Scotland while at Edinburgh Eagles

Honours

  • Scottish National League (9): 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2018

See also

References

  1. ↑ wwwheraldscotland.com/news/12275399.Eagles_avenge_final_defeat
  2. ↑ http://www.angelfire.com/pr/srl/newsconffinal%7C00.html
  3. ↑ http://www.angelfire.com/pr/srl/grandfinal2002.html
  4. ↑ http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/244/eagles-clinch-eighth-scottish-title.html
  5. ↑ http://www.edinburgheagles.co.uk/Edinburgh.Eagles/news/entries/2012/8/5_Eagles_claim_9th_title.html
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