Kingussie and Newtonmore will renew one of Scottish sport’s greatest rivalries this Saturday when they meet in the W M Donald MacTavish Cup Final at Bught Park in Inverness.
The match marks the first time since 2009 that the two Badenoch giants have faced each other in the final of the historic competition, with the first silverware of the 2026 shinty season at stake.
The MacTavish Cup remains one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport and this year’s final brings together two clubs with an extraordinary history in the competition.
Newtonmore are the competition’s most successful side, having won 42 of the 112 finals played during the trophy’s 128 year history.
Kingussie are not far behind and arrive as defending champions after lifting the trophy in each of the last four seasons, taking their total number of MacTavish Cup victories to 31.
The eagerly anticipated final will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA from 4pm.
A full day of shinty action is planned at Bught Park, with Bun sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh taking on Rockfield in the MacKay Cup at 11am before Newtonmore and Skye meet in the MacTavish Juvenile Cup Final at 1pm.
Camanachd Association President Burton Morrison believes supporters are in for a memorable occasion.
Burton Morrison said:
“Saturday’s final promises to be an epic encounter with the great Badenoch rivals lining up against each other in a repeat of last year’s Camanachd Cup final.
“Surprisingly, this is the first time that Kingussie and Newtonmore have met in the MacTavish Cup final since 2009 although both teams have enjoyed periods of dominance in this competition in recent history.
“I wish Kingussie, Newtonmore, and the officials the best of luck ahead of the final.”
Sponsor representative Barry Smeaton is also expecting a thrilling contest.
Barry Smeaton said:
“I had the pleasure of being at the final last year and it was a great game between Kingussie and Lovat, I was also at the Camanachd last year and know the kind of game you get when the two halves of Badenoch come together, we are really excited for the final and proud to support this important competition.”
Newtonmore captain Iain Robinson believes his side can take confidence from previous results this season.
Iain Robinson said:
“We know we can go and beat them; we’ve already done it this season which gives us confidence.
“But it makes their team talk easier and ours harder, they’ll have the fire in their belly, and they’ll want to make that right from the start of the season, so we’ll have to play well.”
Kingussie captain Ruaridh Anderson says his side are relishing another opportunity to compete for silverware.
Ruaridh Anderson said:
“We’re delighted to be in another final.
“We’re pretty fortunate that our team are in the same age range and have gone up through the ranks together, and we’ve managed to drip feed players from the second team, all with the same will to win.”
With local pride, history and the first major trophy of the season on the line, all the ingredients are in place for another memorable chapter in one of shinty’s greatest rivalries.
