Glasgow District (rugby union)

Glasgow District is now known as the professional provincial side Glasgow Warriors. Founded in 1872 it was a select provincial amateur rugby union team that drew its players mainly from the Greater Glasgow area, as well as others from the rest of the west of Scotland; roughly corresponding to the old Strathclyde regional council area. Historically the Glasgow District team played matches against touring teams visiting Scotland from abroad, and also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.

Glasgow District
Full nameGlasgow District
Foundedamateur 1872 (1872)
professional'' 1996 (1996)[1]
LocationGlasgow, Scotland
Official website
www.glasgowwarriors.org
Current season

The Glasgow District rugby union team was founded in 1872. The team played the world's first inter-district match that year against Edinburgh District rugby union team.

The amateur Glasgow District side evolved into the professional Glasgow Warriors side in 1996; one year after rugby union allowed professionalism in 1995.

Formation

The Glasgow District side was formed in 1872 to play against an Edinburgh District side.

The teams met on 23 November 1872 at Burnbank Park at Woodlands in Glasgow; and Edinburgh District won 1 drop goal – 0 in a 20-a-side fixture. This is the oldest inter-district match in the world and to mark this the current Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby sides play for the 1872 Cup every year.[2]

The first Glasgow team in 1872:[3]-

 Backs:  Thomas Chalmers (Glasgow Academicals), William Davie Brown (Glasgow Academicals),
William Hamilton Kidston (West of Scotland)
 Half Backs:  William Cross (Glasgow Academicals), T. A. Drew (Glasgow Academicals)
 Quarters:  George Buchanan McClure (West of Scotland), John Arthur (Glasgow Academicals) [Captain]
 Forwards:  John Kennedy Todd, Henry William Allan, Charles Chalmers Bryce, George Raphael Fleming,
J.S. Thomson, J.K. Brown (all Glasgow Academicals)
James Howe McClure, J. Kennedy, J.P. Tennant, Robert Wilson, G. Hunter, A. Cochrane (all West of Scotland)
J.W. Reid (Glasgow University)

After the initial match at Burnbank, the games rotated - in the twice a season format - between Raeburn Place in Edinburgh and Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Glasgow.

Selection of representative players

Often to aid the selection process of Glasgow District's players a trial match was played.

In Glasgow's case a trial match of hopefuls were divided into Blues and Whites teams, so the players could impress the selectors.[4]

Glasgow also played a 'Rest of the West' team for selection.[5]

Early history

The Inter-City

With the exception of the first four years, the Glasgow v Edinburgh district fixture was more or less played annually; only being beaten by World War and occasional inclement weather.

Typically the Glasgow District side, in its early history, was crammed with Scottish international players.[6]

The Glasgow team for the 5 December 1874 match is an example:[7]

 Backs:  William Davie Brown [captain] ᵜ , James Stewart Carrick ᵜ (both Glasgow Academicals)
 Half Backs:  Malcolm Cross ᵜ (Glasgow Academicals), William Hamilton Kidston ᵜ (West of Scotland)
 Quarters:  James Howe McClure ᵜ , George Buchanan McClure ᵜ (both West of Scotland),
John Kennedy Todd ᵜ (Glasgow Academicals)
 Forwards:  Gilbert Heron ᵜ, Charles Chalmers Bryce ᵜ , Allan Arthur ᵜ , Henry William Allan ᵜ ,
George Raphael Fleming ᵜ (all Glasgow Academicals)
Tom Paterson Neilson ᵜ , John Alexander Neilson ᵜ , J.S. Kennedy, Preston (West of Scotland)
C.E. McArthur, Henry Melville Napier ᵜ , W.B. Russell, J. Hutchison (Glasgow University)

ᵜ Marked as Scottish internationalists.

The first 15-a-side match was played on 29 January 1876.

From the Inter-City formation in 1872, Edinburgh won the first two fixtures. Six draws followed, then came sporadic Edinburgh wins and draws. It wasn't until the 13th inter-city tie that Glasgow won the fixture.

The first winning Glasgow side in 1881:[8]

David Kidston (G. Academicals), A. J. W. Reid and C. W. Dunlop (West of Scotland),
John Alexander Neilson (West of Scotland) and C. Ker (G. Academicals),
D. Y. Cassels [captain], D. McGowan, A. Walker, R. Adam (West of Scotland),
R. B. Young, J. Lang (Glasgow University),
John Blair Brown, R. A. Kerr, William Andrew Walls, G. H. Robb (G. Academicals).

Glasgow then held dominance till 1887 when once more Edinburgh won again. From the 1880s to the close of the 1890s Edinburgh won a total of only four times in 20-years. The tide turned back in Edinburgh's favour in 1898. With only a solitary Glasgow win in 1905, Edinburgh held sway until 1914.

Hamilton Crescent, New Anniesland, Old Anniesland

The games were postponed during the First World War period. After around 50-years at Hamilton Crescent – the West of Scotland ground in Woodlands, Glasgow – the Glasgow v Edinburgh fixture moved to Glasgow Academical's ground at New Anniesland, Glasgow, in 1921. This move prompted yet another shift in balance as Glasgow once again became the dominant force of the two districts. The fixture moved to Glasgow HSFP's ground Old Anniesland in 1927.

Rugby Union

To coincide with the Scottish Football Union changing its name to the Scottish Rugby Union in 1924,[9] the SRU made the Glasgow District Union into the Glasgow District Rugby Union that same year.[10]

Touring sides

Glasgow often played matches against international and non-international touring teams. Occasionally both Glasgow and Edinburgh would field joint teams against the international touring teams.

One strange example is that of the New South Wales Waratahs world tour in 1927–28. They played against Glasgow District on 12 October 1927. Due to collapse of the Queensland Rugby Union they effectively were a de facto Australian national rugby team at the time and the Australian Rugby Union have decreed that their international matches of that tour should be taken as full tests. In the match against Glasgow, the Waratahs won 10–0.

Scottish Inter-District Championship

Two other Scottish districts South and North and Midlands had also been formed and there was regular matches between the four Scottish districts as well as against the touring sides.

The Scottish Inter-District Championship was established in the 1953–54 season. The Glasgow, Edinburgh, South and North and Midlands sides would play off to see which district was best in Scotland. From 1981 an Anglo-Scots or Scottish Exiles team was also invited into this championship.

Famously the 1989 Glasgow District side went through the entire 1989–90 season undefeated:- winning the Scottish Inter-District Championship outright; drawing 18–18 with Munster away; winning 21–6 against Connacht away; and winning against Fiji[11]

Glasgow Inter-District Championship-winning squad 1989-1990.

Graeme Smillie (Glasgow Academicals)

Dave Barrett, Matt Duncan, Dave McKee (West of Scotland), Ian Jardine, George Graham, Kevin McKenzie, Brian Robertson, Stewart Hamilton (all Stirling County), Derek Stark, Phil Manning, David McVey (Ayr), George Breckenridge, Ewan McCorkindale, Alan Watt, Shade Munro, Fergus Wallace, Derek Busby (all Glasgow High Kelvinside), Stewart McAslan (Glasgow Academicals), David Jackson (Hillhead Jordanhill).[12]

Age grades

The Scottish Inter-District Championship was also contested at Age Grade level. The Under 21 Glasgow District side won for the first time in 1986–87 season.[13] With players like Shade Munro, Andrew Garry, Gordon Mackay, Gerry Hawkes and Murray Wallace in that side, it gave a good foundation for the 1989–90 season triumph and these young players later went on to represent the fledgling professional Glasgow side.

Effect of professionalism

With the advent of professionalism in 1995, the Scottish Rugby Union realised that not even the best semi-professional Scottish club teams could compete in the new Professional Era in rugby union, which was beginning to gain great momentum in the professional leagues of the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere.

In an attempt to stay in touch with the leading nations the SRU formed four professional teams out of the four amateur districts of Scotland in 1996. It was these newly professional teams that would represent Scotland in the Heineken Cup and in the Celtic League. The amateur Glasgow District side was to become the professional Glasgow Warriors side.

For the subsequent history of the professional Glasgow rugby district team from 1996, see Glasgow Warriors.

Records and Achievements

Honours

The Glasgow District won the Scottish Inter-District Championship outright in 1955–56, 1973–74 and 1989–90.[12]

It also shared the Scottish Inter-District Championship six times: 1964–65, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1977–78.[14]

Inter-City

Inter-City No Inter-City played

Glasgow score given first. ᵜ Previous to 1876 only goals counted; tries were ignored in the result.

Scoreline key:

Glasgow win Edinburgh win Draw
Twice a season matches
Season Date Score Report Notes Date Score Report Notes
1872-73 23 Nov 18720 - 1dgReportXX a side15 Jan 18730 - 1 gl, 2trReportXX a side
1873-74 6 Dec 18730 - 0ReportXX a side24 Jan 18740 - 1 tr ᵜReportXX a side
1874-75 5 Dec 18740 - 0ReportXX a side20 Feb 18750 - 0ReportXX a side
1875-76 18 Dec 18750 - 0ReportXX a side29 Jan 18760 - 0ReportXV a side

1st 1872 - 73 match played at Burnbank Park in Woodlands, Glasgow;
2nd 1872 - 73 match played at Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, Edinburgh
1st 1873 - 74 match played at Raeburn Place.
2nd 1873 - 74 match played at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Glasgow.
1st 1874 - 75 match played at Hamilton Crescent;
2nd 1874 - 75 match played at Raeburn Place.
1st 1875 - 76 match played at Hamilton Crescent;
2nd 1875 - 76 match played at Raeburn Place.

Annual matches
Season Date Score Report Notes
1876-77 2 Dec 18760 - 1trReportHamilton Crescent; XV a side
1877-78 1 Dec 18770 - 1dgReportHamilton Crescent
1878-79 no match; 9 weeks of frost
1879-80 20 Dec 18791gl - 1glReportHamilton Crescent
1880-81 4 Dec 18800 - 1gl, 2 trlReportHamilton Crescent
1881-82 3 Dec 18811gl, 1tr - 1trReportHamilton Crescent
1882-83 2 Dec 18821gl, 1 tr - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1883-84 1 Dec 18831tr - 1gl, 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1884-85 6 Dec 18841gl - 1trReportHamilton Crescent
1885-86 5 Dec 18851gl, 1tr - 1trReportHampden Park
1886-87 4 Dec 18861tr - 0ReportOld Anniesland
1887-88 3 Dec 18870 - 2gl, 3trReportHamilton Crescent
1888-89 1 Dec 18881gl - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1889-90 7 Dec 18890 - 1dgReportHamilton Crescent
1890-91 6 Dec 18901gl, 5tr - 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1891-92 5 Dec 18911dg, 1tr - 1trReportHamilton Crescent
1892-93 17 Dec 18921gl, 1tr - 3trReportHamilton Crescent
1893-94 16 Dec 18932gl, 2tr - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1894-95 1 Dec 18942 gl - 2 trReportHamilton Crescent
1895-96 7 Dec 18950 - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1896-97 5 Dec 18961tr - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1897-98 4 Dec 18971pg, 1tr - 1glReportHamilton Crescent
1898-99 3 Dec 18981dg, 3tr - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1899-1900 2 Dec 18991pg - 3trReportHamilton Crescent
1900-01 1 Dec 19000 - 2gl, 3trReportInverleith
1901-02 7 Dec 19010 - 2gl, 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1902-03 13 Dec 19020 - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1903-04 5 Dec 19030 - 2gl, 5trReportHamilton Crescent
1904-05 3 Dec 19041tr - 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1905-06 2 Dec 19051gl, 2tr - 1trReportHamilton Crescent
1906-07 1 Dec 19060 - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1907-08 7 Dec 19070 - 0ReportHamilton Crescent
1908-09 5 Dec 19081tr - 1 gl, 1trReportHamilton Crescent
1909-10 18 Dec 19091gl, 2tr - 2gl, 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1910-11 3 Dec 19101gl - 4gl, 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1911-12 2 Dec 19112tr - 3gl, 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1912-13 7 Dec 19121pg, 1tr - 2gl, 1trReportNew Anniesland
1913-14 6 Dec 19131dg - 1dgReportHamilton Crescent
1914-19 no matches; war years
1919-20 6 Dec 19191pg - 2gl, 3trReportHamilton Crescent
1920-21 4 Dec 19201pg, 1tr - 1gl, 2trReportHamilton Crescent
1921-22 3 Dec 19211gl, 1tr - 1pgReportNew Anniesland
1922-23 2 Dec 19221gl, 1tr - 1gl, 4trReportNew Anniesland
1923-24 1 Dec 19231plg - 1plgReportNew Anniesland
1924-25 6 Dec 19244gl, 3tr - 2trReportNew Anniesland
1925-26 Report Reportno match; frost
1926-27 4 Dec 19263tr - 3gl, 1p, 1trReportNew Anniesland
1927-28 3 Dec 19271p - 1gl, 1tr, 1pReportOld Anniesland
1928-29 1 Dec 19281g, 1d, 2p, 1tr - 3g, 1tReportOld Anniesland
1929-30 7 Dec 19291gl, 5tr - 1gl, 1trReportOld Anniesland
1930-31 6 Dec 19303tr - 2pReportOld Anniesland
1931-32 5 Dec 19312tr - 1gl, 1p, 1trReportOld Anniesland
1932-33 3 Dec 19321gl, 1tr - 1gl, 4trReportOld Anniesland
1933-34 2 Dec 19331gl, 1tr - 1p, 4trReportOld Anniesland
1934-35 1 Dec 19341tr - 0ReportOld Anniesland
1935-36 7 Dec 19354gl, 3tr - 0ReportOld Anniesland
1936-37 5 Dec 19361gl, 1p, 1tr - 1pReportOld Anniesland
1937-38 4 Dec 19374gl, 3p - 1p, 1trReportOld Anniesland
1938-39 3 Dec 19382p, 1tr - 1dg, 3p, 1trReportOld Anniesland
1939-45 no matches; war years
1945-46 1 Dec 19451tr - 5gl,1p, 2trReportOld Anniesland
1946-47 7 Dec 19463tr - 4gl, 3trReportOld Anniesland
1947-48 6 Dec 19472dg, 1tr - 1gl, 1trReportOld Anniesland
1948-49 4 Dec 19482p, 1tr - 1pReportOld Anniesland
1949-50 3 Dec 19490 - 1gl, 1pReportOld Anniesland
1950-51 2 Dec 19501gl, 1p, 1tr - 1pReportOld Anniesland
1951-52 1 Dec 19512tr - 1trReportOld Anniesland
1952-53 13 Dec 19521g, 2p, 1t - 2g, 1tReportOld Anniesland

Scottish Inter-District Championship

The Inter-City match was then incorporated into the Scottish Inter-District Championship. For Glasgow's professional championship results from 1996 see Glasgow Warriors; for results of later Glasgow - Edinburgh matches see 1872 Cup.

Scottish Inter-District Championship
Season Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts Notes
1953–54 3rd 31022820+8-2
1954–55 2nd 31114030+10-3
1955–56 1st 32103322+11-5
1956–57 4th 30121850-32-1
1957–58 3rd 31023429+5-2
1958–59 4th 31021430-16-2
1959–60 4th 30031455-41-0
1960–61 4th 30031453-39-0
1961–62 4th 3003952-43-0
1962–63 3rd 31021820-2-2
1963–64 3rd 31021124-13-2
1964–65 1st= 32012518+7-4Shared with South
1965–66 4th 30031446-32-0
1966–67 3rd 31022949-20-2
1967–68 1st= 32013129+2-4Shared with Edinburgh and South
1968–69 3rd 31024846+2-2
1969–70 2nd 32013522+13-4
1970–71 2nd 21012928+1-2North and Midlands match cancelled
1971–72 1st= 32015243+9-4Edinburgh won play-off
1972–73 1st= 32017074-4-4
1973–74 1st 33004438+6-6
1974–75 1st= 32012928+1-4Shared with North and Midlands
1975–76 1st= 32013834+4-4Shared with South and Edinburgh
1976–77 4th 30032693-67-0
1977–78 1st= 32015615+31-4Shared with South & Edinburgh
1978–79 3rd 31022868-40-2
1979–80 3rd 31024131+10-2
1980–81 2nd 32014854-6-4
1981–82 4th 41033681-45-2
1982–83 4th 41035758-1-2
1983–84 4th 42025771-14-4
1984–85 5th 40042868-40-0
1985–86 4th 41036656+10-2
1986–87 4th 41036899-31-2
1987–88 4th 410353104-51-2
1988–89 4th 410356117-61-2
1989–90 1st 43107854+24-7
1990–91 2nd 42115459-5-5
1991–92 4th 21012034-14-2Abbreviated tournament - no winner
1992–93 4th 41124459-15-3
1993–94 2nd 21013534+1--(lost to South in cup final)
1994–95 5th 41036295-33-2
1995–96 5th 400463161-98-0

Partial list of games played against international opposition

Year Date Opponent Venue Result Score Tour
1902 20 December[15]  Canada Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow Win 11–3 1902-03 Canada rugby union tour
1931 28 October[16]  South Africa Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Loss 13–21 1931–32 South Africa rugby union tour
1974 24 September[17]  Tonga Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Win 33–16 Report
1979 6 November  New Zealand Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Loss 6–12 1979 New Zealand tour of England, Scotland & Italy[18]
1981 12 December  Australia Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Loss 0–31 1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland Preview Report
1984 4 December  Australia Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Loss 12–26 1984 Australia tour of Britain & Ireland[19]
Report Report
1985 6 September  Netherlands The Hague Win 26–12 Preview Report
1985 8 September  Belgium Brussels Win 23–9 Preview Report Tour Report
1987 16 September  France Hughenden Stadium Loss 9–28 Preview Report
1989 27 October  Fiji Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Win 22–11 1989 Fiji rugby union tour of Europe

Notable former players

British and Irish Lions from Glasgow District

The following former Glasgow District players have represented the British and Irish Lions.

Notable non-Scottish players

The following is a list of notable non-Scottish international representative former Glasgow players:

New Zealand

Wales

See also

References

  1. "Glasgow Warriors". rugbystore.co.uk.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  4. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  5. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hEw1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=WaYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6536%2C5086374
  6. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/19011206/010/0001
  7. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  8. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  9. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0020/print.shtml
  10. Midlands First and Last. John Methven. H.B Rutherford publishers. 1989
  11. "Warriors Honour Winning Greats" (Press release). Scottish Rugby. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  12. "Underdog tag spurred on our Glasgow title team, says Derek Stark". The Scotsman. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  13. McMurtrie, Bill (3 February 1988). "Glasgow's strong pack". The Glasgow Herald. p. 26. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  14. Border Reivers v Glasgow 24 October 1997 match programme
  15. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/19021222/067/0004
  16. "Rugby: South Africans in Glasgow". The Glasgow Herald. 28 October 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  17. "Scots warned to tackle the hit men". The Herald. 4 June 1993. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  18. Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980-81. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0362020183.
  19. Stephen Jones, ed. (1985). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1985-86. Queen Anne Press. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-356-10942-9.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.