2019
In 2019, the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) introduced the Super6, a new semi-professional league aimed at bridging the gap between amateur club rugby and the fully professional Pro14 (now United Rugby Championship). Ayr RFC was chosen as one of the six clubs to participate, and the Ayrshire Bulls were born.
2021
The inaugural season was never completed due to the global pandemic, however Super6 action continued the following year which resulted in the Bulls winning the first ever Super6 Final, defeating Southern Knights 26-16 to clinch the first piece of silverware at The DAM Health Stadium in Edinburgh.
2022
2022 saw the introduction of the Sprint Series, which Watsonians would come out as the winners. The Bulls would return to the Final of the Super6 competition later that year, this time taking on the Sprint Winners. The Bulls fell short in extra time 43-24.
2023
The following season some changes were made to the Sprint Series which saw Glasgow Warriors A and Edinburgh A teams join the Sprint, increasing playing teams to eight and enhancing the professionalism and competitiveness of the league. The 2023 Super Series Sprint was tightly contested, and The Bulls managed to once again display their consistency by reaching another Final. At Millbrae, the Ayrshire Bulls took on Heriot’s in a fierce encounter which the Bulls made a strong second half comeback to emerge victorious with a 19-15 victory.
In the FOSROC Super Series later that year the Bulls were in another Final, this time with a new opponent, Stirling Wolves. The Bulls were looking to complete the Sprint Series and Super Series double, however, it wasn’t to be as Stirling Wolves won the Final 29-10 at the Hive Stadium in November 2023.
2024
With the SRU deciding to not continue the Super Series, the 2024 Sprint would be the last ever competition for the Ayrshire Bulls, therefore were aiming to finish off the series the way they started, with a piece of silverware.
Having won the 2023 Sprint, the Ayrshire Bulls were aiming to defend their title. After 6 rounds the Bulls were in 1st place, having won 5 out of 6 games, therefore securing a home final in the playoffs.
The Bulls would take on Stirling Wolves at Millbrae in a rematch of the 2023 FOSROC Super Series Final. The Bulls won the match 33-19 in front of a packed out Millbrae to win the last ever piece of silverware, and cement themselves as the most successful team in the competition.
Stats
Games played: 64
Won: 45
Lost: 18
Drawn: 1
Win Ratio: 70.3%
Total Points Scored: 1921
Total Points Conceded: 1178
106 Players have represented the Bulls in league games
Blair Macpherson
Blair played every FOSROC Super Series rugby game and had the most appearances in the competition with 64. He also had the most tries scored by a player in the competition with 40.
50 Caps
3 Bulls players reached 50 Caps; Blair Macpherson, Alex McGuire & Ed Bloodworth. Honourable mention to Calvin Henderson who had 49.
Coaches Progression
Coaches Pete Murchie & Pete Horne have progressed into high-performance full-time coaching environments.
Player Progression
Marshall Sykes – Ayrshire Bulls – Edinburgh
Sam Kitchen – Ayrshire Bulls- Edinburgh
Jordan Lenac – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors
Ollie Smith – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors
Ross Thompson – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors
Tom Jordan – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors
Alex Samuel – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors
Grant Stewart – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors
Ben Afshar – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors
Richie Simpson – Ayrshire Bulls – Glasgow Warriors ( Partnership)
Graham Geldenhuys – Ayrshire Bulls – Richmond
Tom Everard – Ayrshire Bulls – Jersey Reds
Yaree Fantini – Ayrshire Bulls – Benetton Treviso
Tom Williams – Ayrshire Bulls – Wales 7s
Matt Davidson – Ayrshire Bulls – Scotland 7s
Liam McNamara – Ayrshire Bulls – Ireland7s/ Connacht
Elias Caven – Ayrshire Bulls – Cambridge
Archie Smeaton – Ayrshire Bulls – Doncaster Knights