Highland Rugby Football Club was founded on 4th January 1922 in the Palace Hotel, Inverness. Home matches in those days were played at the Hostel Field on Ardross Street before moving to the Bught and Northern Meeting Park until Canal Park was secured from the Inverness District Council in 1974 on a 7 year lease.
The 1st XV still played their matches at the Northern Meeting Park for several years after the Clubhouse was opened in April 1977.
The Scottish Rugby Union league system was introduced in 1973 following which, under the captaincy of Nairn MacEwan, Highland climbed from Division 4 to Division 1 in consecutive seasons. Nairn won 20 caps for Scotland in the 70’s and played alongside fellow Highlander John Frame in the Calcutta Cup winning match of 1971.
As well as MacEwan and Frame, Highland have nurtured such talent as Ernie Michie, George Mackie, Gregor Mackenzie, Moray Low and Jamie Dobie who have all gone on to play for the Scotland senior side and the Black Isle’s Jade Konkel representing Scotland Ladies. Former Highland men Paddy Kelly and Jake Henry are currently representing Scotland in the national 7’s squad.
Having had its share of ups and downs, as recently as 2012 Highland RFC only senior team were languishing towards the bottom of Caledonia North Division 2 with a real threat of heading to the very bottom of the league tables at that time.
Current Head Coach Davie Carson stepped in with a new team and only seven years later the club were back at the top of amateur rugby in Scotland with three senior men’s squads competing for places week in week out.
Our outstanding new pitches and clubhouse at Canal Park were opened by Scottish Rugby’s patron, HRH The Princess Royal in March 2018 underpinning the clubs development and community engagement in the capital of the Highlands for many years to come.
