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SRU Library and Archives The shelves of the SRU Library and Archives contain hundreds of books, documents and artefacts relating to the history of Scottish rugby, dating from the first international game of 1871. We are currently not open to the public as we are cataloguing our entire collection. We are able to answer most enquiries. Please see the FAQs list below for more details. If you would like to visit Murrayfield Stadium and learn a little about its history, please see STADIUM TOURS. We are currently building a database of all Scotland’s players and fixtures. In the meantime you can download a list of Scotland’s caps (senior male team only) and a recent fixture list.
Contact Written enquiries to: FAQs My relative played for Scotland. How can I find out about them? Take a look at the Player Archives section on this website. If there is very little information, it probably means that our records are incomplete for that player. Please let the Library know of any biographical information that may help us to update our records. If you are looking for additional information, the Library has the following:
Please contact the Library if you wish to view these, or to make an enquiry. Can I visit the Library? The Library is open from 10am - 3pm, Monday to Friday by appointment only for researchers and rugby writers. The Library is not open on match days. Please check this website regularly for any changes to opening hours. Please phone or email the Library to make an appointment. Let us know the nature of your enquiry and how much assistance you will require. The Library is a small archive and materials are for reference use only. Much of our collection is uncatalogued, so visiting may not be the best way to answer your query. If you do not have a specific enquiry, we would recommend that you take a look at this website first before contacting us. Is there a Scottish Rugby Union Museum? No, not at the moment. The SRU Library and Museum was originally opened in December 1988. With the building of the new West Stand in 1993, the Museum was closed and the artefacts placed into storage. The Library was transferred to a room under the new West Stand. In 2004 that Library was closed to the public and the books stored at Murrayfield. Enquiries from the public and interested parties have been dealt with on an individual basis since that time. Now, however, the Library and Museum are now undergoing something of a restoration with the main Library being moved back into its room under the West Stand. The artefacts that were stored have incomplete records, so the long task of identifying and cataloguing the collection has begun. The artefacts are being placed into a more suitable environment and museum-grade storage and administrative procedures are being initiated. Some limited means of exhibition are being installed and we hope to expand this as we learn more about our collection. Objects in the SRU’s collection include match programmes dating back to 1905, international, club and school caps from the 1870s to the present day, trophies and presentation items from Scotland’s many tours abroad, team photographs of Scotland’s International teams from 1871 onwards, several historical match balls, collections gifted by past members of the Union and independent benefactors. It is hoped that a museum or rugby heritage centre will one day be built and opened to the public to display the wide range of rugby artefacts in the SRU collection. A Museum Working Party has been set up to explore the potential for such a site, however, funding and other priorities within the organisation mean that a museum is a more long-term ambition. I have a question about Scottish rugby history We recommend you take a look through the SRU website. It may have the information you are looking for. The Scotland and History sections may be of particular interest. You may also find the following books useful: International Rugby Union - A Compendium of Scotland’s Matches The Scottish Rugby Union : Official History The Essential History of Rugby Union : Scotland The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records Can I get a photograph of a Scottish international team? We hold photographs of most Scottish international teams. These are for personal use only. Any commercial or public use of these images may contravene copyright law, and the more recent photographs are subject to external copyright. The Library deals with enquiries of this kind on an individual basis. Please contact us to find out more. I would like to donate something to the SRU’s collection The SRU collects memorabilia from all levels of the game of Rugby Union, particularly Scottish international level. We are interested in items of historical interest in the areas of international, professional, club, school and womens’ rugby, and coaching, refereeing and volunteering. We are especially interested in photographs and film, match and tournament ephemera, relevant objects associated with individual players, and collections or objects that have intrinsic value as befitting a national archive of Scottish rugby memorabilia. Of course, not everything can be accepted and added to the collection. We have limited storage space, and conservation and preservation of artefacts can require considerable investment of time and finances. We reserve the right to return any donations to their donors, or if preferred, transfer them to other organisations or individuals. Although donations are often intended kindly and are gratefully received, we regret we cannot accept everything, and therefore admissions to the collection are at the discretion of the Library Administrator and executive authorities within the SRU. We would be pleased to suggest other recipients for any donation we are unable to receive. We do not collect anything that duplicates an object we already have in our collection, unless it has another use, is in better condition or has a particular provenance or history of exceptional interest. This may inform our decision of whether to accept a donation, and may be the cause of our declining an object offered to us. The most important aspect of an object is that it has a provenance - a documented or traceable history that sets the object in context. When collecting, we will seek and accept objects that have a provenance. An object’s history is important, particularly in the field of memorabilia, and lack of provenance may be the cause of our refusing, returning or transferring elsewhere an object donated to us. The SRU cannot guarantee to display any item all of the time. We have limited exhibition space at the SRU. However, many items are collected for future use or for reference or research purposes. The eventual location of a donated object will depend on several factors, including conservation, type of object, security, suitability of object, current exhibitions and events, etc. All financial donations will go towards the SRU Library and Museum collections fund for the future purchase and conservation of rugby artefacts and books. Please make cheques payable to Scottish Rugby Union and we will ensure they are allocated to our department and acknowledged through the appropriate channels. Can I borrow something from the SRU’s collection? Object loans will only be considered to institutions such as museums and heritage centres that can guarantee sufficient security and professional standards of care and maintenance. Corporate short-term loans may occasionally be considered on an individual object basis. All loans are for exhibition only. Research and educational use of objects must take place at the SRU Library until further notice. The Library Administrator has ultimate responsibility for decisions on loans. For a copy of our Loans Policy and to discuss inter-organisation loans, please contact the Library. |
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