Great Scots

Exiles back in the second tier of English rugby

It has been a long road back but the famous exiles from London Scottish are finally back among England's top teams.

A 17-13 victory over Barking saw London Scottish FC crowned champions of National One, securing them a place in the Championship next season.
However just 11 years ago, the Exiles - who have supplied 220 Scotland internationals and four Lions captains in their proud history - found themselves in the bottom division of the rugby pyramid.
It was a long fall from grace. Scottish had won promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs in 1998 and had held their own during their top-flight debut.

"The club is hugely ambitious. That is the culture here. However it has learned it lessons and it is doing things right."
Simon Amor Quotes of the week

However having registered eight wins to finish 12th - avoiding the automatic drop and the relegation/promotion play-off - the club were sent tumbling down the leagues when then-owner Tony Tiarks pulled out, effectively rendering the club's professional side bankrupt.
Those were dark times for the club, which had been formed at MacKay's Tavern on Ludgate Hill in London on Wednesday April 10th 1878.
But despite having had to start again from scratch in Herts/Middlesex One through the club's amateur team, Scottish have enjoyed an impressive run of 10 promotions and now find themselves ready to join the fight for the Premiership once again.

Ambitious

And unlike before, the club have a solid business plan under the guidance of chief executive Tony Copsey - with the former Wales international having previously been the managing director at Harlequins and chief executive at Wasps.
While in head coach Simon Amor, they have an innovative forward-thinker who is passionate about seeing the club not only perform, but develop players for Scotland and England.
Amor, a former England Sevens specialist who spent time at Gloucester, London Irish, Harlequins and London Wasps, told skysports.com: "The club's goal for next season - and the next three seasons really - is to establish itself as a top-eight Championship side, to develop young players that can go on to play for Scotland and to continue to help those players that have come to us.
"The club is hugely ambitious. That is the culture here. However it has learned its lessons and it is doing things right. It is about getting the finances and everything right and that takes time, so we are taking it a step at a time."
London Scottish's success this season has been all the more special after they lost their opening three games.
However a remarkable run of 27 successive wins - and a tremendous bonus-point haul - saw them finish top of National One and inflict Barking's first loss in two seasons.
Amor, who took over the full-time role of head coach at the start of the season after previously being player-coach, said: "It was tough going when we lost the opening three games of the seasons - but there were reasons behind this, we had new players and a new coaching set-up bedding in.

"It will be hard but it is a challenge we are looking forward to."
Simon Amor Quotes of the week

Competitive

"But even though we lost those three games, there were the signs there that it was all coming together.
"We were playing well and where we wanted to be technically, so once everyone settled in we were able to go on that run of 27 games - as well as pick up a lot of bonus points along the way."
Having sealed promotion to the second tier of English rugby, Amor's first job was to begin planning for the challenge ahead - and that means looking at using the finances available wisely to make additions to his squad.
"We know that to remain in the Championship that it is important that we strengthen in one or two areas," the 32-year-old said.
"But we will have a competitive budget and we will look at managing that."
The Scottish budget could be tested against the likes of Leeds, the Cornish Pirates - depending on the outcome of the Championship play-off - Bedford and London Welsh.
Nevertheless, Amor is relishing the chance to see his side go head-to-head with their rivals.
"That is why everyone is doing this," he added. "It will be hard but it is a challenge we are looking forward to."