Founding In early 1878, three Scottish members of a team called
St. Andrew's Rovers FC decided to break away to form their own club for Scots. in The Queen's Head, in Water Lane, Blackfriars, London (universally known as MacKay's Tavern, frequently mis-recorded, as Ned Mackay the jovial Scottish landlord ran the pub), initially played on Blackheath Common, and later at Richmond Athletic Ground in
Surrey.
Early history London Scottish was the first of the "Exiles" rugby clubs to be founded, and the last of the main three – after
London Irish and
London Welsh – to go "open" in 1996. Following a mediocre 2016–17 campaign, the club appointed Loughborough Students director of rugby Dave Morris as director of rugby and the club saw a change at the top, with Malcom Offord becoming chairman of the club and Carson Russell as CEO.
Semi-professional club (2021–) Following a reduction in funding from the RFU, Scottish adopted a semi-professional model from the
2020–21 season, with players and coaches being employed part-time. Following this, in February 2021 it was confirmed that due to funding cuts and the costs associated with the
COVID-19 pandemic Scottish would not take part in the upcoming season. Scottish were to leave the Athletic Ground after 127 years, with the first team temporarily relocating to
Esher's rugby ground in
Hersham and the rest of the club also seeking relocation. However it was later confirmed they would remain at the Athletic Ground for their return to the Championship in the
2021–22 season.
Sevens London Scottish have been great exponents of
rugby sevens, winning the
Melrose Sevens three times,
Middlesex Sevens seven times and the
Rosslyn Park London Floodlit Sevens seven times. ==Captains and league position (since 1999–2000)==