Aberdeen Wanderers Rugby Football Club is a Scottish rugby union club. It was founded in Aberdeen in 1928 as Aberdeen Engineers RFC, acquiring its current name in 1934.

Its most notable player to date is Jason White who started with the club and progressed to captain Scotland.

History

In 1928 a new club called the Aberdeen Engineers RFC was formed by Tom Richardson a surveyor for Lloyds Register and Ernest W.H.Knight a naval architect who worked for Hall Russell shipyards in Aberdeen and later became their general manager and Wanderers longest serving President (22 seasons).

The inaugural meeting for the formation of the club was held at the Douglas Hotel on the 13th of January 1928. Part of the founding members and a player in the first team in the early years was the famous Aberdonian actor Andrew Cruickshank.

The first honorary president was Lord Provost Sir Andrew Lewis of the John Lewis Shipbuilding family who held the honorary role for approximately 20 years. The first active president was Major A.B. McPhail early in 1928 and then Tom Richardson took over the role for the 1928-29 first formal season in the leagues. The club was open to players who worked for engineering companies in Aberdeen at the time.

The first competitive match was played against Aberdeenshire RFC at Rubislaw on the 25th of February 1928 and was captained by J.Martin.

Groats Road near to Hazlehead Park has been the home ground of the club since 1928. The first match was played there on the 29th of September 1928 against Gordonians RFC and was captained by George McAra.

Change of Name and Mergers

The club later changed its name to Aberdeen Wanderers in 1934. At that time Wanderers were one of the few teams to be open, as the city clubs were mainly closed with membership only open to former pupils of a school or University.

In 1948 a separate club Aberdeen Centralians RFC, was formed for former pupils of Aberdeen Central School, which later became Aberdeen Academy (now Hazlehead Academy). Consequently, the club changed its name to Aberdeen Academicals RFC.

In 1971 Wanderers and Academicals merged to form Aberdeen Wanderers Academicals RFC. In 1990 the club merged with local side Granite City RFC (who were formed in 1975), with the club reverting to its former name of Aberdeen Wanderers RFC.

Location The club is based at Groats Road, by Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen where is currently has two pitches and a pavilion called "The Jason White Pavilion". In 2023 the facilities were expanded to include 2 additional changing rooms and an external cafe container.

Youth Section The Youth section, which was formed in 1990–91 season, has a large member base and currently fields teams from Under 13s to Under 18s and for primary aged children. An Under 15s and Under 18s girls section was started in 2015, the first in Aberdeen city.

Representative and International Players Over the years the club has played at various levels within and before Scotland's National league structure. They have had players represent the North of Scotland, Caledonia (previously North & Midlands), and North District.

Aberdeen Wanderers players who played representative rugby are: Francis Pinquet - North v South Africa 1951 Peter G.H.Younie - District Championship 50's Gordon R.Ferries - North v Midlands 1951 Dr Neville Z. Sacks - North v All Blacks 1953 G.Aitken Henry Dickson Mike Wolfe-Murray Alan Alexander “Sandy” Dinnie Jackie Wright Ken McLean John Cassells Bob Annand

Aberdeen Academicals players who have played for North or North & Midlands are: Gordon Jessamine Jack Kilman Donald Halkerston Tom Morrice

The Youth Section was started in the 1990 – 1991 season and has constantly grown over the years to such a level where Aberdeen Wanderers now field teams at all age levels. At youth level a number of players have previously been selected for North, Caledonia District and Scotland age groups.

Those from the youth system representing Scotland are as follows: Jason P. R. White - Scotland full international (77 caps – 19 as captain) George Hunter - Scotland Club XV, Scotland U20s, U18s and U17s including being capped by the Bahamas in 2016 (through ancestry line) Ashleah McCulloch - Scotland 7's and Scotland U20s Matthew Herbert - Scotland Under 18s Development Squad 2024

Hamilton Burr who came through the youth system has played for Glasgow Warriors and Waikato Rugby in New Zealand. He has also played for the Waikato Chiefs.

The most notable product of the youth system is Jason P.R. White who went on to play for Watsonians, Caledonia Reds, Sale Sharks, Clermont and Scotland. He was also part of the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005. Aberdeen Wanderers is recognised as a Lions Origin club in recognition. The Aberdeen Wanderers club house is named the Jason White Pavilion in recognition of his skills and sportsmanship

Club Leadership History

Below is a record of the club presidents and captains from 1928 to the present.

Aberdeen Engineers (1928–1934)

Year President Club Captain 1928 Major A.B. McPhail J. Martin 1928–29 T. Richardson G. McAra 1929–30 T. Richardson H. Wrigglesworth 1930–31 T. Richardson D. Marr 1931–32 T. Richardson H.M. Dickson 1932–33 J. A. Lewis G. Aitken 1933–34 J. A. Lewis H.M. Dickson

Aberdeen Wanderers (1934–1948)

Year President Club Captain 1934–35 J. A. Lewis R. A. G. Morgan 1935–36 E. W. H. Knight R. L. M. Gray 1936–37 E. W. H. Knight D. G. E. Benzie 1937–38 E. W. H. Knight A.B. Hutchison 1938–39 E. W. H. Knight A.B. Hutchison 1939–40 E. W. H. Knight A.B. Hutchison 1945–46 E. W. H. Knight W.S. Gibb 1946–46 A. H. S. Lewis W.S. Gibb 1947–48 A. H. S. Lewis J. Grurg

Aberdeen Wanderers and Aberdeen Academicals (1948–1971)

Year Aberdeen Wanderers President Aberdeen Wanderers Club Captain Aberdeen Academicals Club Captain 1948–49 A. H. S. Lewis N.E. Hutchinson R. Duncan 1949–50 A. H. S. Lewis N.E. Hutchinson D. Henderson 1950–51 A. H. S. Lewis N. Crockett & J. Davidson D. Henderson 1951–52 A. H. S. Lewis A.A. Dinnie D. Henderson 1952–53 E. W. H. Knight A.A. Dinnie J. Henderson 1953–54 E. W. H. Knight G.R. Ferries J. Henderson 1954–55 E. W. H. Knight N. Sacks D. Gray 1955–56 E. W. H. Knight P. Nicholson D. Gray 1956–57 E. W. H. Knight J. Wright & C. Moore S. Smith 1957–58 E. W. H. Knight D.A. Westland G. Mortimer 1958–59 E. W. H. Knight F.G. Lawson & G.F.G. Cowie G. Mortimer 1959–60 E. W. H. Knight D. Hodgson & J. Mell & J. Copland G. Mortimer 1960–61 E. W. H. Knight W.A. Davidson G. Mortimer 1961–62 E. W. H. Knight G. Blackley G. Mortimer 1962–63 E. W. H. Knight G. Blackley T.M.Stratton 1963–64 E. W. H. Knight D. Mulholand R.Erridge 1964–65 E. W. H. Knight D. Mulholand R.Erridge 1965–66 E. W. H. Knight A.P. Mathewson E.Wilson 1966–67 E. W. H. Knight B.J. Hadden S. Reamsbottom 1967–68 E. W. H. Knight B.J. Hadden & W.A. Davidson L.Hadden 1968–69 N.E.Hutchinson D.Philip A.Johnston 1969–70 A.A.Dinnie W.A.Davidson B.Conn 1970–71 A.A.Dinnie N.J.Anand B.Conn

Aberdeen Wanderers & Academicals (1971–1990)

Year President Club Captain 1971–72 J. Porter B.J. Hadden 1972–73 J. Porter A. Bruce 1973–74 J. Porter R.A. Annand & B. Elrick 1974–75 C. Petrie J. Killman 1975–76 C. Petrie B. Elrick 1976–77 C. Petrie D.T. Milne 1977–78 M.L. Berrow W. Hogg 1978–79 M.L. Berrow M. Lynch 1979–80 M.L. Berrow M. L. Snowie 1980–81 M.L. Berrow M. L. Snowie 1981–82 M.L. Berrow A.D. Neave 1982–83 M.L. Berrow A.D. Neave & T.B Simmonds 1983–84 M.L. Berrow T.B Simmonds 1984–85 M.L. Berrow G. Gilbert 1985–86 M.L. Berrow G. Gilbert 1986–87 M.L. Berrow B. Christie 1987–88 M.L. Berrow B. Christie 1988–89 D. Kincaid W. M. H. Glendinning 1989–90 D. Kincaid W. M. H. Glendinning

Aberdeen Wanderers (1990–Present)

Season President Club Captain 1990–91 D. Kincaid N. Chilcott 1991–92 W. M. H. Glendinning G. Johnston 1992–93 W. M. H. Glendinning S. Spence 1993–94 W. M. H. Glendinning S. Spence 1994–95 W. M. H. Glendinning A. Wilson 1995–96 W. M. H. Glendinning A. Wilson 1996–97 W. M. H. Glendinning F. Selbie 1997–98 W. M. H. Glendinning F. Selbie 1998–99 W. M. H. Glendinning W. Corby & S. Liddle 1999–00 W. M. H. Glendinning A. Thom 2000–01 F. Selbie G. Parslow 2001–02 F. Selbie G. Parslow 2002–03 D. Simpson E. Smeaton 2003–04 D. Simpson E. Smeaton 2004–05 J. Currie S. Davies 2005–06 J. Currie S. Davies 2006–07 J. Currie S. Davies 2007–08 S. Nixon D. Hurst 2008–09 S. Nixon D. Hurst 2009–10 S. Nixon M.W.S. Sisson 2010–11 S. Nixon A. Muirhead 2011–12 S. Nixon A. Muirhead 2012–13 S. Nixon L. Henderson 2013–14 S. Nixon S. Fox 2014–15 B. Mullins S. Fox 2015–16 B. Mullins J. Watt 2016–17 B. Mullins J. Watt 2017–18 G. Mullinor J. Watt 2018–19 G. Mullinor M.D. Mackay-Scott 2019–20 G. Mullinor C. Walker 2020–21 G. Mullinor C. Walker 2021–22 G. Mullinor F.S. Christie & D. Coull 2022–23 G. Mullinor S. Byars 2023–24 M. R. Allen G. Livingstone 2024–25 M. R. Allen S. Robson 2025–26 M. R. Allen S. Robson 2026–27 M. R. Allen G.W. Gauntlett

1st XV League Information

Year League Final position 2013/14 Season Caledonia League Division 2 North 8th 2014/15 Season Caledonia League Division 2 North 6th 2015/16 Season Caledonia League Division 2 North 2nd (promoted) 2016/17 Season Caledonia League Division 1 8th 2017/18 Season Caledonia League Division 1 7th 2018/19 Season Caledonia League Division 1 7th 2019/20 Season Caledonia League Division 1 4th 2020/21 Season n/a - Covid n/a 2021/22 Season Caledonia League Division 1 8th 2022/23 Season Caledonia League Division 1 6th (relegated) 2023/24 Season Caledonia League Division 2 North 8th 2024/25 Season Caledonia League Division 2 North 6th 2025/26 Season Caledonia League Division 2 North 4th 2026/27 Season Caledonia League Division 3 North

2016/17 Season The 1st XV were promoted into the Caledonia League Division 1 at the beginning of the season where team came 8th in the league.

The 2nd XV, known as the Aberdeen Wanderers Warriors development squad, were promoted into the Caledonia League Division 3 North League after the collapse of Division 4 at the start of the season. The Warriors finished 6th in the league.

In Scottish Rugby's Club Youth Red Conference League, the Under 13 to Under 18 teams at Aberdeen Wanderers teamed up with Deeside RFC and played as "Deeside Wanderers". The youth section came 2nd in the Conference overall.

For the Caledonia Youth Regional Competition, Aberdeen Wanderers Under 15s, Under 16s and Under 18s, combined with Aberdeen Grammar Rugby players to form a combined team called "Granite City Colts". The Under 15s and Under 18s teams got through to the semi-final of their cup competitions, where the Under 16s won the Plate in their age group of the competition.

The Under 15 and Under 18 girls combined with other North East Scotland rugby clubs to enter the National Girls Cup Competition as "Grampian Girls Rugby", which saw the Under 15s get to the Cup semi final and the Under 18s to the Shield semi final. Both of these semi final games were played at Aberdeen Wanderers home ground.

Sevens tournament

The club have hosted the Sam Lobban Trophy sevens tournament annually since 2018. It is a charity rugby sevens event in memory of their former player. Proceeds go to Mental Health Charities in Aberdeen.

References

External links aberdeenwanderers.com