Glasgow Hutchesons Aloysians RFC: Difference between revisions
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==Senior Rugby== |
==Senior Rugby== |
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GHA run 4 senior sides - the 1st XV, the 2nd XV and Braidholm RFC who act as a [[farm team|feeder club]]. There is also a veterans team called the GHA Gazelles. |
GHA run 4 senior sides<ref>http://www.gharugby.co.uk/seniors.htm</ref> - the 1st XV, the 2nd XV and Braidholm RFC who act as a [[farm team|feeder club]]. There is also a veterans team called the GHA Gazelles. |
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The amalgamation has been a great success with GHA's 1st XV having spent 3 seasons in [[Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division One|Premiership Division One]] (2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08) - Scottish rugby's top domestic league. The club are currently playing in [[Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division Two|Premiership Division Two]] having been relegated from Division One on the final day of the 2007/08 season. |
The amalgamation has been a great success with GHA's 1st XV having spent 3 seasons in [[Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division One|Premiership Division One]] (2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08) - Scottish rugby's top domestic league. The club are currently playing in [[Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership Division Two|Premiership Division Two]] having been relegated from Division One on the final day of the 2007/08 season. |
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Revision as of 13:18, 30 September 2010
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| Full name | Glasgow Hutchesons' Aloysians Rugby Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Scottish Rugby Union | ||
| Founded | 1923 (as Hutchesons' Grammar School F.P.R.F.C.) | ||
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Ground(s) | Braidholm | ||
| President |  Tom Morrice | ||
| Coach(es) | Bill MacDonald  Paul Tyler | ||
| Captain(s) | Niall Cassie | ||
| League(s) | Premiership Division Two | ||
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| Official website | |||
| www | |||
Glasgow Hutchesons' Aloysians Rugby Football Club, more commonly known as GHA (colloquially pronounced /ˈdʒiːhɑː/), is a Scottish Rugby Union club based in the Giffnock area of Glasgow, which currently plays in Scottish Premiership Division Two. The club plays its home matches at Braidholm.
History
The club was established by the 2002 merger between Glasgow Southern RFC and Hutchesons' - Aloysians' RFC[1]. The former club was originally known as Clarkston but was renamed in 1995 with the ambition of creating the premier side on the South Side of Glasgow. The latter club was also formed as the result of an earlier merger between the former pupils (FPs) clubs of Hutchesons' Grammar School and St. Aloysius' College. The merged club is now firmly established as the premier club on the South Side of Glasgow.
Hutchesons’ Grammar School F. P. R. F. C.
The Club was formed in 1923 playing out of Auldhouse, the school’s sports ground in Thornliebank. Admitted as a full member of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1937, the Hutchesons’ Club entered the National League system in Season 1973 at 2nd Division level, having dispensed with tradition to some degree by opting for “Open” status two years previously, a significant decision forced, by necessity, on many Scottish F.P. Clubs at that time.
1990 was to see further constitutional change when the club agreed amalgamation with close friends and one time rivals to form Hutchesons' Aloysians R.F.C.
Hutchesons’ Aloysians R.F.C.
Richard Allan was selected as the Club’s first full internationalist for the Irish fixture at Murrayfield in 1969 to be followed by other distinguished players who gained representative honours. Brothers Gordon and Alan Bulloch were to gain National Caps, with the former captaining the National side on several occasions. Ray Nelson was to achieve caps for the United States National Team the U.S. Eagles.
Old Aloysians R.F.C.
By contrast, the Old Aloysians’ club was formed in 1955 for the sole purpose of undertaking a challenge match against the extremely successful Saint Aloysius’ College 1st XV. The unexpected success of this venture resulted in a decision to seek regular fixtures which led to a continuing upsurge in interest and the inevitable and rapid expansion of the F.P. Club. The first fixture was against Hutchesons’ Grammar F. P. R. F. C., coincident with the invitation from Hutchesons’ Grammar School to Saint Aloysius’ College 1st XV to undertake regular fixtures. This long standing friendship led to the amalgamation in season 1990-91.
Clarkston R.F.C.
Unlike the the two Former Pupil Clubs now involved at Braidholm, Clarkston R .F.C., since its formation in 1937, has always been an “Open” club, created by a variety of former pupil rugby players who did not wish to undertake cross city travel to indulge in their sport. Significantly the first club chairman was a Glasgow Academical, the first President a Glasgow High Former Pupil and the longest serving Club Captain and Coach, Andrew Williams a product of Allan Glen’s.
Playing initially at the local authority’s Overlee ground, years of tireless fund raising saw the Club’s new facility at Braidholm opened by S.R.U. President Charlie Drummond in January 1971. The Club entered the new National League structure in 1973 at 4th Division level, rising through the years to division two. With three pitches. floodlights, 450 seater stand and expanded Clubhouse, in recognition of its changing character and by a significant membership majority at the May 1995 A.G.M., the Club altered its name to Glasgow Southern R.F.C.
Glasgow Southern R.F.C.
Over several years a variety of players graduated through the Club participation from both youth and senior level to achieve representative status. Full International caps were awarded to Gordon McIlwham, and Euan Murray while others, such as James Eddie and Calum Forrester have achieved selection at Youth and more advanced levels including the national sevens squad.
Further Development
Agreement reached with a development organisation saw the original 1970 Clubhouse demolished to make way for a health club. A new, state of the art, Clubhouse was formally opened by S.R.U. President Ronnie Young at Braidholm in January 2002. The Glasgow Southern name was only to survive for seven years before it became evident to all concerned that the sport on the south side of Glasgow would be best served through amalgamation, an initiative formalised in May 2002 with the formation of Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians Rugby Football Club.
Senior Rugby
GHA run 4 senior sides[2] - the 1st XV, the 2nd XV and Braidholm RFC who act as a feeder club. There is also a veterans team called the GHA Gazelles.
The amalgamation has been a great success with GHA's 1st XV having spent 3 seasons in Premiership Division One (2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08) - Scottish rugby's top domestic league. The club are currently playing in Premiership Division Two having been relegated from Division One on the final day of the 2007/08 season.
Current Squad
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
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Junior Rugby
GHA has one of the largest junior rugby programmes in Scotland ranging from micros up to Under 18s. The junior section has contributed several players to the senior set up including James Eddie who subsequently signed for Glasgow's professional team, the Glasgow Warriors.
GHA's ongoing ties with Hutchesons' Grammar School and St. Aloysius' College can also be seen from the large number of pupils and former pupils of both schools playing at the club. Links have also been forged with local state schools, particularly Williamwood High School and Mearns Castle High School whose pupils and former pupils are also widely represented throughout the club.
Notable former players
This list does not include players who were allocated to play for GHA in the Scottish Rugby draft[3] whereby players from Scotland's two full time professional squads, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, are annually drafted by Premier One clubs to play for them on weekends when not selected for the professional teams. Although GHA have not played in Premier One under the current draft system, a precursor to the current system was in place that led to several players, including current Scotland International Johnnie Beattie turning out for GHA.
Post the 2002 amalgamation
Active:
James Eddie - Glasgow Warriors, Scotland 'A'- Calum Forrester - Glasgow Warriors, Scotland 'A'
- Jon Welsh - Glasgow Warriors, Scotland Club International, Scotland 'A'
Scott Cowan - Southland
Retired:
- Alan Bulloch - Scotland
Gavin Walsh - Ireland 'A'- Joe Naufahu - Glasgow Warriors, Southland, Canterbury
Pre the 2002 amalgamation
Active:
Retired:
- Richard Allan - Scotland
Ray Nelson - USA- Gordon Bulloch - Scotland, British and Irish Lions
- Gordon McIlwham - Scotland