Greenock Wanderers RFC

Greenock Wanderers R.F.C. is a rugby union team based in Greenock, Scotland. They currently compete in the Scottish National League Division Three.

Greenock Wanderers
Founded1873
LocationGreenock, Scotland
Ground(s)Fort Matilda
PresidentDavid McIlroy
Captain(s)Leigh Tyley
Beverly Addison
League(s)Scottish National League Division Three
2018–19West Division 1, 1st of 12
Official website
www.gwrfc.co.uk

History

Greenock Wanderers Rugby Football Club is one of the oldest clubs in Scotland, one of its earliest constituents been formed in 1873 as The Wanderers.[1]

The Wanderers started off as a rugby union side, but in 1877 they decided to play association football for the 1877-78 season. The club was struggling with membership numbers and it was no doubt easier to field 11 players for association football for the season than the 15 required for rugby union.[2]

Merger

The Wanderers club remained low on members in 1878; but it did have a 'good field' in Drums Park. It precipitated a merger with Greenock West End; a rugby union club in the town, with many members but no home. The new club took on the colours of Greenock West End: black, red and yellow. A vote was taken on this: and the 50 or so members of West End out-voted the 20 members of The Wanderers. The new club - as Greenock Wanderers - thus began in 1878; and as a result of the superior West End vote was now playing under rugby union rules.[3]

Greenock Wanderers

A new clubhouse was opened in 2008 after extensive work projects,[4] providing top-notch hospitality to home and away supporters. The clubhouse was officially opened by The Princess Royal.[5]

Teams

It consists of 1st XV, 2nd XV, Women's 1st XV, under-18, under-17, under-16, under-15, S2 and S1 plus a complete Mini section; a mini rugby tournament is organised every year.[6] They won the 2009–10 Scottish National League Division Two losing only one game and thus being promoted to the Scottish National League Division One that year.

The 1st XV is once more competing successfully with the top 25% of clubs in Scotland and supported by a flourishing Youth Program spanning ages 7 to 17, they are the envy of many other clubs.

In 2014 a Women's section was formed, who have gone from strength to strength to now compete in the 2nd tier of Women's Rugby in Scotland, the BT National League Division 1. In 2018 the Women's section were BT Women's National Plate Finalists.

Greenock Sevens

The club runs the Greenock Sevens tournament. Established in 1948, entrants play for the Fort Matilda Cup.[7]

Notable former players

British and Irish Lions

Scotland Internationalists

Other Internationalists

Glasgow District players

Honours

References
  1. "Greenock Wanderers history". Greenock Wanderers. Archived from the original on 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  2. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000970/18781028/040/0002
  3. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000970/18780916/063/0002
  4. "Greenock Wanderers clubhouse plans". Greenock Wanderers. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  5. "Greenock Wanderers clubhouse opening". Greenock Wanderers. 2008-02-24. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  6. "Greenock Wanderers Mini tournament 2009". Greenock Telegraph. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  7. "Greenock Sevens". June 7, 2019.
  8. "(Reid)-Kerr's Lions profile". British & Irish Lions. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  9. Paul Dobson (2009-07-03). "Reid-Kerr's 1910 tour injury". rugby365.com. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  10. "Reid-Kerr's cricket career". ESPN cricinfo.com. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  11. "Short biography of Reid-Kerr's". Greenock Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  12. "1910 Lions squad". RugbyFootballHistory.com. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  13. "James Bridie's career". Newport RFC. Archived from the original on 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  14. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  15. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  16. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  17. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  18. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  19. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  20. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PoxEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RbUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3794%2C5994353
  21. https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/greenock-sevens/
  22. "McLaren HSFP Sevens". June 29, 2019.
  23. "Craigielea Sevens". June 12, 2019.
  24. "Helensburgh Sevens". June 10, 2019.
  25. "Lenzie Sevens". June 9, 2019.
  26. "Ayr Sevens". June 7, 2019.
  27. "Scottish Hydro National 2 League Table". scottishrugby.org. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
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