Glasgow District (rugby union)

Glasgow District
Full name Glasgow District
Founded amateur 1872 (1872)
professional'' 1996 (1996)[1]
Location Glasgow, Scotland
Official website
www.glasgowwarriors.org
Current season

Glasgow District 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.

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 and Edinburgh won 3–0 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.

The first Glasgow team in 1872:[2]-

 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, R. Wilson, G. Hunter, A. Cochrane (all West of Scotland)
J.W. Reid (Glasgow University)

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.[3]

Glasgow also played a 'Rest of the West' team for selection.[4]

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.

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

 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 , Allen 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:[6]

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.

Old Anniesland

The games were postponed during the First World War period. After 50-years at Burnbank – the West of Scotland ground in Woodlands, Glasgow – the Glasgow v Edinburgh fixture moved to Glasgow Academical's ground at Anniesland, Glasgow, in 1922. This move prompted yet another shift in balance as Glasgow once again became the dominant force of the two districts.

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 the 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[7]

Glasgow Inter-District Championship-winning squad 1989–90:

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).[8]

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.[9] 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.[8]

It also shared the Scottish Inter-District Championship six times: 1964–65, 1967–68, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1977–78.[10]

Season standings

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 side 15 Jan 18730 - 1 gl, 2trDetailXX a side
1873-74 6 Dec 18730 - 0ReportXX a side 24 Jan 18740 - 1 tr ᵜ ReportXX a side
1874-75 5 Dec 18740 - 0ReportXX a side 20 Feb 18750 - 0ReportXX a side
1875-76 18 Dec 18750 - 0ReportXX a side 29 Jan 18760 - 0ReportXV a side
Annual matches
Season Date Score Report Notes
1876-77 2 Dec 18760 - 1trReportXV a side from now on
1877-78 1 Dec 18770 - 1dgReport
1878-79 no match; 9 weeks of frost
1879-80 20 Dec 18791gl - 1glReport
1880-81 4 Dec 18800 - 1gl, 2 trlReport
1881-82 3 Dec 18811gl, 1tr - 1trReport
1882-83 2 Dec 18821gl, 1 tr - 0Report
1883-84 1 Dec 18831tr - 1gl, 2trReport
1884-85 6 Dec 18841gl - 1trReport
1885-86 5 Dec 18851gl, 1tr - 1tr Hampden Park
1886-87 4 Dec 18861tr - 0Report
1887-88 3 Dec 18870 - 2gl, 3trReport
1888-89 1 Dec 18881gl - 0Report
1889-90 7 Dec 18890 - 1dgReport
1890-91 6 Dec 18901gl, 5tr - 2trReport
1891-92 5 Dec 18911dg, 1tr - 1trReport
1892-93 17 Dec 18921gl, 1tr - 3trReport
1893-94 16 Dec 18932gl, 2tr - 0Report
1894-95 1 Dec 18942 gl - 2 trReport
1895-96 7 Dec 18950 - 0Report
1896-97 5 Dec 18961tr - 0Report
1897-98 4 Dec 18971pg, 1tr - 1glReport
1898-99 3 Dec 18981dg, 3tr - 0Report
1899-1900 2 Dec 18991pg - 3trReport
1900-01 1 Dec 19000 - 2gl, 3trReport
1901-02 7 Dec 19010 - 2gl, 2trReport
1902-03 13 Dec 19020 - 0Report
1903-04 5 Dec 19030 - 2gl, 5trReport
1904-05 3 Dec 19041tr - 2trReport
1905-06 2 Dec 19051gl, 2tr - 1trReport
1906-07 1 Dec 19060 - 0Report
1907-08 7 Dec 19070 - 0Report
1908-09 5 Dec 19081gl, 1tr - 1trReport
1909-10 18 Dec 19091gl, 2tr - 2gl, 2trReport
1910-11 3 Dec 19101gl - 4gl, 2trReport
1911-12 2 Dec 19112tr - 3gl, 2trReport
1912-13 7 Dec 19121pg, 1tr - 2gl, 1trReport
1913-14 6 Dec 19131dg - 1dgReport
1914-19 no matches; war years
1919-20 6 Dec 19191pg - 2gl, 3trReport
1920-21 4 Dec 19201pg, 1tr - 1gl, 2trReport
1921-22 3 Dec 19211gl, 1tr - 1pgReport
1922-23 2 Dec 19221gl, 1tr - 1gl, 4trReportOld Anniesland
1923-24 1 Dec 19231plg - 1plgReport
1924-25 6 Dec 19244gl, 3tr - 2trReport
1925-26 Report Reportno match; frost
1926-27 4 Dec 19263tr - 3gl, 1p, 1tr
1927-28 3 Dec 19271p - 1gl, 1tr, 1pReport
1928-29 1 Dec 19281g, 1d, 2p, 1tr - 3g, 1tReport
1929-30 7 Dec 19291gl, 5tr - 1gl, 1trReport
1930-31 6 Dec 19303tr - 2pReport
1931-32 5 Dec 19312tr - 1gl, 1p, 1trReport
1932-33 3 Dec 19321gl, 1tr - 1gl, 4trReport
1933-34 2 Dec 19331gl, 1tr - 1p, 4trReport
1934-35 1 Dec 19341tr - 0Report
1935-36 7 Dec 19354gl, 3tr - 0Report
1936-37 5 Dec 19361gl, 1p, 1tr - 1pReport
1937-38 4 Dec 19374gl, 3p - 1p, 1trReport
1938-39 3 Dec 19382p, 1tr - 1dg, 3p, 1trReport
1939-45 no matches; war years
1945-46 1 Dec 19451tr - 5gl,1p, 2trReport
1946-47 7 Dec 19463tr - 4gl, 3trReport
1947-48 6 Dec 19472dg, 1tr - 1gl, 1trReport
1948-49 4 Dec 19482p, 1tr - 1pReport
1949-50 3 Dec 19490 - 1gl, 1pReport
1950-51 2 Dec 19501gl, 1p, 1tr - 1pReport
1951-52 1 Dec 19512tr - 1trReport
1952-53 13 Dec 19521g, 2p, 1t - 2g, 1tReport

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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 301218-50-32-1
1957–58 3rd 31023429+5-2
1958–59 4th 31021430-16-2
1959–60 ' --------'
1960–61 ' --------'
1961–62 ' --------'
1962–63 ' --------'
1963–64 ' --------'
1964–65 ' --------'
1965–66 ' --------'
1966–67 ' --------'
1967–68 ' --------'
1968–69 ' --------'
1969–70 ' --------'
1970–71 ' --------'
1971–72 ' --------'
1972–73 ' --------'
1973–74 ' --------'
1974–75 ' --------'
1975–76 ' --------'
1976–77 4th 30032693-67-0
1977–78 1st= 32015615+31-4Shared with South & Edinburgh
1978–79 ' --------'
1979–80 3rd 31024131+10-2
1980–81 2nd 32014854-6-4
1981–82 3rd 41033681-41-2
1982–83 4th 41035758-1-2
1983–84 ' --------'
1984–85 ' --------'
1985–86 ' --------'
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
1931 28 October[11]  South Africa Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Loss 13–21 1931–32 South Africa rugby union tour
1974 24 September[12]  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[13]
1981 12 December  Australia Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Loss 0–31 1981–82 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland
1984 4 December  Australia Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Loss 12–26 1984 Australia tour of Britain & Ireland[14]
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
1989 27 October  Fiji Hughenden Stadium, Glasgow Win 22–11 1989 Fiji rugby union tour of Europe

Notable former players

Notable non-Scottish players

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

New Zealand

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Glasgow Warriors". rugbystore.co.uk.
  2. ↑ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  3. ↑ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  4. ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hEw1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=WaYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6536%2C5086374
  5. ↑ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  6. ↑ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  7. ↑ "Warriors Honour Winning Greats" (Press release). Scottish Rugby. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Underdog tag spurred on our Glasgow title team, says Derek Stark". The Scotsman. 25 December 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  9. ↑ McMurtrie, Bill (3 February 1988). "Glasgow's strong pack". The Glasgow Herald. p. 26. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  10. ↑ Border Reivers v Glasgow 24 October 1997 match programme
  11. ↑ "Rugby: South Africans in Glasgow". The Glasgow Herald. 28 October 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Scots warned to tackle the hit men". The Herald. 4 June 1993. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980-81. London: Queen Anne Press. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0362020183.
  14. ↑ Stephen Jones, ed. (1985). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1985-86. Queen Anne Press. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-356-10942-9.

External links

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