1996–97 Glasgow Warriors season

The 1996-97 season is the first in the history of the Glasgow Warriors as a professional side. The Warriors rugby union provincial side was created by turning the amateur provincial side Glasgow District into a professional outfit. During this season the newly professional side competed as Glasgow Rugby.

Glasgow Warriors 1996 / 1997
Ground(s)Hughenden Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)
Coach(es) Kevin Greene
Captain(s) Gordon Bulloch
Most caps Gordon Bulloch
Brian Robertson
David McLeish
Fergus Wallace (8)
Top scorer Calum MacGregor (34)
Most tries Derek Stark (6)
League(s)1996-97 Scottish Inter-District Championship
2nd (Runners Up)
Team kit

This season saw Glasgow Rugby compete in the competitions: the Scottish Inter-District Championship and the European Challenge Cup.

Season Overview

Formation of the professional side

District sides had a difficult metamorphosis into their respective professional sides in Scotland. The district sides were not members of the Scottish Rugby Union; the amateur clubs were. This meant that many top amateur club sides fancied their own chances of turning professional instead of the district sides.

The International Rugby Board embraced professionalism in 1995. The district versus clubs debate in Scotland meant that no Scottish sides were entered into the Heineken Cup for season 1995-96. A vote was held in early 1996 and although the debate was frosty the vote ended decisively for districts 178 - 24.[1]

Glasgow Rugby was formed for season 1996-97.

By October 1996, the SRU had signed 36 players on professional contracts. These 36 players were distributed between Border Reivers, Caledonia Reds, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.[2]

SRU contracted players: Graeme Beveridge, Steven Brotherstone, Nick Broughton, Millan Browne, Gordon Bulloch, Darren Burns, Graeme Burns, Craig Chalmers, Graham Dall, Ian Elliot, Gareth Flockhart, Cameron Glasgow, Hugh Gilmour, Paddy Haslett, Jim Hay, Ian Jardine, Stuart Lang, Kevin McKenzie, John Manson, Cameron Murray, Scott Nichol, Guy Perrett, Bryan Redpath, Steven Reed, Stuart Reid, Brian Renwick, Rowen Shepherd, Graham Shiel, Tom Smith, Tony Stanger, Derek Stark, Barry Stewart, Rob Wainwright, Murray Wallace, Alan Watt and Scott Welsh.[2]

Turbulent times

Some people involved in amateur club rugby didn't like the decision for the District clubs to become Scotland's representatives. Keith Robertson and Gavin Hastings had already argued against the District clubs at the SRU EGM.[1]

Hastings then joined with former international Scotland captains Jim Aitken, Finlay Calder and David Sole to make a 'Gang of Four' which toured all over Scotland to promote the policy that club sides should represent Scotland in Europe.[1]

Despite Greene being well-liked by the Glasgow players - Glasgow's flyhalf Calum MacGregor once gave this tribute of his boss: "Kevin Greene, the Glasgow coach, is the kind of man who makes the players think for themselves, like Ian McGeechan, and I prefer that to the blood-and-thunder approach. I have enjoyed playing for Glasgow this year more than any other. I look around at the young guys in the team and they are keen and excited and that makes me feel good about the game. The players have a belief in it and a desire to win and I like that." [3] - this backdrop of resentment against the professional districts created a shaky start for the Glasgow team.

Team

Coaches

Manager

Convenor / Team Manager: Hamish Fyfe[5][6] [7]

Squad

 

Hookers
Gordon Bulloch

Props
Gordon McIlwham
Danny Porte
Alan Perrie
Brian Robertson

Locks
Charles Afuakwah
Stephen Begley
Shade Munro
Malcolm Norval
Guy Perrett

 

Loose Forwards
Gordon Mackay
David McLeish
David McVey
John Shaw
Fergus Wallace
Murray Wallace

Scrum halves
Fraser Stott
Jamie Weston

Fly halves
Kenny Baillie
George Breckenridge
Andrew Garry
Cameron Little
Calum MacGregor
John MacLeod

 

Centres
Alan Bulloch
Harry Bassi
Ian Jardine
James McLaren

Back Three
James Craig
Kenny Logan
Glenn Metcalfe
Derek Stark
Craig Sangster

 

Academy players

None

Player statistics

During the 199697 season, Glasgow have used 30 different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and points scored by each player.

Position Nation Name Scottish Inter-District Championship European Conference Total
Apps
(sub)
Tries Points
kicked
Apps
(sub)
Tries Points
kicked
Apps
(sub)
Total Pts
HKGordon Bulloch30050080
PRGordon McIlwham300(1)003(1)0
PRAlan Perrie00050050
PRBrian Robertson30050080
LKCharles Afuakwah000(1)00(1)0
LKStephen Begley10040050
LKShade Munro30010040
LKMalcolm Norval20050070
BRGordon Mackay000(3)10(3)5
BRDavid McLeish31050085
BRDavid McVey000(1)00(1)0
BRJohn Shaw00050050
BRFergus Wallace30051085
BRMurray Wallace30000030
SHJamie Weston00031035
SHFraser Stott3001(1)004(1)0
FHKenny Baillie000(1)00(1)0
FHGeorge Breckenridge0001(2)0181(2)18
FHAndrew Garry30010040
FHCameron Little0001(2)131(2)8
FHCalum MacGregor31171012434
FHJohn MacLeod00030030
CEHarry Bassi00020020
CEAlan Bulloch100520610
CEIan Jardine00010010
WGJames Craig230220425
WGKenny Logan336220531
WGDerek Stark320440730
FBGlenn Metcalfe1004(1)105(1)5
FBCraig Sangster2(1)003(2)055(3)5

Staff movements

Personnel In

Personnel Out

None

Player movements

Academy promotions

None

Player transfers

Competitions

Pre-season and friendlies

None.

European Challenge Cup

The previous year's Scottish Inter-District Championship was a forgettable one for Glasgow who finished last. This meant that the SRU did not enter Glasgow in the Heineken Cup for the new season 1996-97. Instead Glasgow entered the lower European tournament, the Challenge Cup, or as it was then known the European Conference, in Pool A. This was one of 4 Pools in the tournament and Glasgow was Scotland's only representative.

Kevin Greene, the Glasgow coach, later admitted that preparation for Glasgow's first foray into Europe was poor. He recalled the first game against Newbridge: "We had no information at all on Newbridge. We should at least have had some data and perhaps even a video, but the SRU had nothing. It made preparation very awkward." [8]

Pool A

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
Agen 5500209+1115682+7410
Montferrand 5401308+2221174+1378
Sale Sharks 53021814+4166115+516
Newport 520314191598158604
Glasgow 5104153015113202892
Newbridge 50051633171062191130
Source : www.ercrugby.com
Round 1
12 October 1996
Newbridge RFC 38-62 Glasgow
Try: Leighton Winder
Hayden Jeffreys
Joe Powell
Simon Jenkins
Glyn Harding
Con: Jason Williams x 4
Preview
Report
Try: Kenny Logan x 2
Derek Stark x 4
Alan Bulloch x 2
Glenn Metcalfe
Cameron Little
Con: Calum MacGregor x 6
The Welfare Ground
Referee: Ashley Rowden (RFU)
Round 2
16 October 1996
Glasgow 9 – 29 Sale Sharks
Pen: George Breckenridge x 3
Preview
Preview
Report
Try: John Fowler x 3
Con: Andy Griffin
Pen: Andy Griffin x 4
Hughenden Stadium
Referee: Bernard Perez (FFR)
Round 3
19 October 1996
Montferrand 76 – 9 Glasgow
Try: Gilles Darlet
Raphael Saint-Andre
Gérald Merceron
David Bory x 2
Christophe Larrue
Eric Lecomte
Arnaud Costes
Jean-Marc Lhermet
Nicolas Nadau
Con: Gérald Merceron x 6
Pen: Gérald Merceron
Drop: Eric Nicol
Preview
Preview
Report
Report
Pen: George Breckenridge x 3
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
Referee: Gerry Wallis (RFU)
Round 4
26 October 1996
2.30pm
Newport RFC 25-10 Glasgow
Try: David Smith
Martyn Lleweyen
Shaun Connor
Con: Shaun Connor
Alex Lawson
Pen: Shaun Connor x2
Preview
Preview
Report
Report
Report
Try: Fergus Wallace
Con: Craig Sangster
Pen: Craig Sangster
Rodney Parade
Referee: Ed Morrison (RFU)
Round 5
30 October 1996
Glasgow 23 – 34 Agen
Try: James Craig x 2
Jamie Weston
Gordon Mackay
Pen: Cameron Little
Preview
Preview
Report
Report
Try: Vincent Thomas
Laurent Loubere
Jean-Francois Mateo
David Lagrange x 2
Con: Stephane Prosper x 3
Drop: Stephane Prosper
Hughenden
Referee: Claudio Giacomel (FIR)

Scottish Inter-District Championship

It was decided that the Scottish Inter-District Championship places would decide which Scottish sides would enter the Heineken Cup and which would enter the European Challenge Cup.

The 4 newly professional district teams Glasgow Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby, Border Reivers and Caledonia Reds would play off for the Championship. As this decided European places it was decided that it was not appropriate for London Scottish or a Scottish Exiles side to be invited into the Championship.

Each team would play one another only once, swapping home and away each year. With only 4 teams this meant that the Championship was decided by each team playing just 3 matches.

The top 3 sides qualified for the Heineken Cup next season and the fourth qualified for the Challenge Cup. Due to the weather Glasgow's match against Edinburgh was switched to Murrayfield as its undersoil heating was best placed to deal with frost. Glasgow lost their final match against Caledonia Reds and finished 2nd behind the Reds. Caledonia Reds, the Border Reivers and Glasgow qualified for the Heineken Cup for the next season.

1996-97 League Table

Team P W D L PF PA +/- Pts
Caledonia Reds 32107753+245
Glasgow 32017357+164
Border Reivers 31115961-23
Edinburgh 30033569-340
Round 1
Round 2
29 December 1996
Border Reivers 24 36 Glasgow
Try: Bennett
Nichol
Davidson
Pen: Parker x 3
Preview
Report
Report
Try: Kenny Logan x 2
James Craig x 2
David McLeish
Con: Calum MacGregor x 4
Pen: Calum MacGregor
Round 3
5 January 1997
Caledonia Reds 20 14 Glasgow
Try: Shaun Longstaff x 2
John Kerr
Con: Mark McKenzie
Pen: Mark McKenzie
Report
Report
Try: Derek Stark
James Craig
Con: Kenny Logan x 2
Murrayfield Stadium
Referee: I Ramage

Sponsorship

Main Sponsor

Official Kit Supplier

Canterbury

References

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