Rugby league in Scotland

[1] During the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, Scotland held its second rugby league match at Tynecastle, Edinburgh, this time an Ashes game.

In 1954, Scotsman Dave Valentine captained Great Britain to victory in the inaugural edition of the Rugby League World Cup.

In 1989, a Scotland students side was formed at the University of Aberdeen, and this proved to be the catalyst for the formation of a number of other clubs.

In 2000 and 2002 the Challenge Cup Final was held at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, the home of the Scottish Rugby Union, during the Redevelopment of Wembley Stadium.

The games attracted 67,247 and 62,140 which to date (June 2024) are the largest rugby league attendances in Scotland.

As of June 2024, no Scottish sides have played in the higher tiers of the pyramid, though some have featured in the Challenge Cup.

But, unlike in England, rugby league is not one of the ten most played sports in Scotland amongst adults.

In 2009, the Magic Weekend was held at Murrayfield with a two-day attendance of 60,000 spectators, including ticket sales of just under 7,000 in Scotland alone, making the event a success.

The BBC covers the Rugby League Challenge Cup from the rounds in which the top clubs enter.