Glasgow Rugby - Changed But Still Largely The Same

ONCE UPON A TIME, at the end of each September, to “celebrate” the Glasgow Autumn Holiday, the players from the city's leading rugby clubs would take themselves off to the Borders, where they would receive a full and ritual kicking from the likes of Hawick, Melrose, Gala and Kelso – why, back then even poor old Langholm were strong enough to send the city slickers back up the road, nursing their bumps and hurt pride after a sound thrashing.

Browsing the Herald archives this week, while researching another article, I found Bill McMurtrie's epistle from Galashiels, (there was no by-line, but, it had Der Kaiser's style stamp all over it); telling of another round of beatings, this in September, 1960. The article mentioned: “the nine senior Glasgow clubs”; this was in the days of the unofficial “Newspaper Championship”, when the decision as to which were and were not Scotland's senior rugby clubs was made by the rugby correspondents of The Herald, The Scotsman and assorted other journalists, such as Bill McLaren, who actually, got it closer to correct than the SRU committee of the time probably could.

But, nine senior Glasgow clubs – who might they be? Well, Glasgow High School FP, Glasgow Academicals, West of Scotland, Kelvinside Academicals, Allan Glens FP, Hutcheson's Grammar School FP, Hillhead High School FP, Glasgow University and the new boys on the block, Joradnhill College – who had only just been accorded “senior” status, is the answer.

The question today is, where do we draw the line between senior and junior clubs? Premiership clubs are surely in – which means: Ayr, Glasgow Hawks, Stirling County and Marr (assuming we see County as a “West Region” club rather than a “Caledonian” one), are “senior” clubs. But, after those four top-flight clubs, how far down the divisions do consider senior status to go?

If we take National League 1 – then GHA and Cartha-Queen's Park fit the bill. But, if we take our lead from the SRU, they don't. You see, the SRU has revamped the format for the BT Scottish Cup, only the top 16 clubs, as settled by their finishing spots in the previous season's Bt Premiership and National League 1 now qualify to play in the full cup – the other National League 1, 2 and 3 clubs will have a new trophy to aim for – the BT National League Cup.

So, taking our lead from Murrayfield, the nine senior clubs from 1960, have now become just four – Ayr, Glasgow Hawks, Stirling County and Marr. Actually, I think that's about right – if you consider, Hawks play at Old Anniesland and are an amalgamation of GHK (themselves an amalgamation of Glasgow HSFP and Kelvinside Accies) and Glasgow Accies. So, the Hawks are a continuation of three of the 1960 big boys.

But, Ayr, Stirling County and Marr were all “junior” clubs in 1960, (to be fair, Ayr were back then considered “semi-junior” - they had fixtures against some of the senior clubs, but, not enough to qualify them for admission to the Unofficial Championship, this didn't come until about 1968). So, if we take Hawks as representing GHSFP, Kelvinside Accies and Glasgow Accies – what has become of the other six big clubs?

West of Scotland are soldiering-on in difficult circumstances, Hutcheson's is now the middle letter in GHA, while Jordanhill College and Hillhead HSFP amalgamated to become Hillhead-Jordanhill. To muddy the waters, GHK is now back in the National Leagues, as is Glasgow Accies, while Allan Glen's are still playing away in West Division One.

Glasgow University still competes in the Scottish Universities Championship and in the British Universities Cup, but does not enter a team in the Scottish Leagues. However, it should be noted, Glasgow University Medics won West Division Four at the end of the season, so, there is still some rugby life around University Avenue.

For myself, I feel, given the current strength of rugby in the west, from Warriors down, six is probably about the right number of “senior” clubs, and, if we take the presence of GHA and Cartha-Queen's Park in National League 1, well that gives us six clubs from the old Glasgow District – now the West Region.

Of these six clubs, three – Hawks, GHA and CQP are actually “city” clubs – with grounds in what we might call “greater Glasgow”, although I accept Braidholm is outside the old city boundary.

POOR Stuart Hogg, forced home early from the Lions' tour, after colliding with Conor Murray's elbow. This injury has clearly cost Hoggie the Test cap which seemed to be his for the taking.

Let's look on the bright side, he will be well-rested come the new campaign in September, and Scotland will get the benefit.

Still on the Lions, losing to the Highlanders will increease the pressure on Warren Gatland and his squad. I cannot see the Fleet Street Mafia holding-off much longer before they start agitating for the Lions XV to be entirely an England one, and, while they are at it, ditching the iconic red shirts for a pristine white one with a red rose on it. One more defeat ought to send them over the top.

FINALLY, well done to Scott Wight and the Scotland Women's VII squad after their win in the European Women' Sevens Trophy tournament over the weekend. A great and timely boost for the women's game up here.