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The first outing of Craig Dunain was against a Highland Gentleman's side led by Nairn McEwan. The team after this initial defeat went on to have a few successful seasons playing in the now defunct
Highland District League. After their most successful season things fell apart and the side folded in 1983.
The club was re-formed in 1987 after players from Inverness College working within Craig Dunain were asked to make up a side for a local 7's tournament. The players were heavily defeated in the tournament but true to the form of their predecessors were last to leave the bar vowing to re-form Craig Dunain RFC.
This time around the first match was against Westmorland RFC from USA. This club is now known as The Highlanders. As the years went Craig Dunain established themselves in the local league. The leagues were re-organised several times as local sides were drawn into National Leagues. 1993 saw Craig Dunain's most successful season winning the Highland A League, the newly instituted Highland District League Cup and a couple of 7's tournaments. Craig Dunain were also awarded McEwan?s Club of the month for Scotland for February of that year. This award is no longer made but Craig Dunain were one of only two clubs not within the National League set up to receive the award in its time.
Craig Dunain moved up to the North District League at this time and stayed there for 3 years before finishing bottom and returning to the Highland District League. Now in season 2002-03 Craig Dunain have moved back into a complicated league system which sees them play in the North District set up for national league entrance but also playing reserve sides in the North Alliance. The Highland League is played in the second half of the season.
The women's side started in 1993 and although currently going through a re-building stage they have left their mark on the women's rugby scene in Scotland with several players having trials for the national side.
In the mid 90's the sides name was changed to Inverness Craig Dunain but although we have now lost our playing base when the hospital closed in 2000 it was felt appropriate to keep the name.
The teams now play at Bught Park but there is hope that in time we will return to a site near our origin.
It is often asked whether Craig Dunain is a serious side or a social side. There is no correct answer sometimes we are serious, sometimes we are social and sometimes we are seriously social. There have been winning sides in both the men's and women's sides in the past and all connected with the club know there will be again.
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