1996–97 Glasgow Warriors season
The 1996–97 season was the first in the history of the Glasgow Warriors as a professional side. The Warriors rugby union provincial side was created by turning the amateur provincial side Glasgow District into a professional outfit. During this season, the newly professional side competed as Glasgow Rugby.
| Ground(s) | Hughenden Stadium (Capacity: 6,000) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Coach(es) |  Kevin Greene | ||
| Captain(s) |  Gordon Bulloch | ||
| Top scorer | Calum MacGregor (34) | ||
| Most tries | Derek Stark (6) | ||
| League(s) | 1996–97 Scottish Inter-District Championship | ||
| 2nd | |||
| |||
| |||
This season saw Glasgow Rugby compete in the Scottish Inter-District Championship and the European Challenge Cup.
Overview
Formation of the professional side
District sides had a difficult metamorphosis into their respective professional sides in Scotland. The district sides were not members of the Scottish Rugby Union; the amateur clubs were. This meant that many top amateur club sides fancied their own chances of turning professional instead of the district sides.
The International Rugby Board embraced professionalism in 1995. The district versus clubs debate in Scotland meant that no Scottish sides were entered into the Heineken Cup for season 1995-96. A vote was held in early 1996 and although the debate was frosty the vote ended decisively for districts 178 - 24.[1]
Glasgow Rugby was formed for season 1996–97.
By October 1996, the SRU had signed 36 players on professional contracts. These 36 players were distributed between Border Reivers, Caledonia Reds, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.[2]
SRU contracted players: Graeme Beveridge, Steven Brotherstone, Nick Broughton, Millan Browne, Gordon Bulloch, Darren Burns, Graeme Burns, Craig Chalmers, Graham Dall, Ian Elliot, Gareth Flockhart, Cameron Glasgow, Hugh Gilmour, Paddy Haslett, Jim Hay, Ian Jardine, Stuart Lang, Kevin McKenzie, John Manson, Cameron Murray, Scott Nichol, Guy Perrett, Bryan Redpath, Steven Reed, Stuart Reid, Brian Renwick, Rowen Shepherd, Graham Shiel, Tom Smith, Tony Stanger, Derek Stark, Barry Stewart, Rob Wainwright, Murray Wallace, Alan Watt and Scott Welsh.[2]
Turbulent times
Some people involved in amateur club rugby didn't like the decision for the District clubs to become Scotland's representatives. Keith Robertson and Gavin Hastings had already argued against the District clubs at the SRU EGM.[1]
Hastings then joined with former international Scotland captains Jim Aitken, Finlay Calder and David Sole to make a 'Gang of Four' which toured all over Scotland to promote the policy that club sides should represent Scotland in Europe.[1]
Despite Greene being well-liked by the Glasgow players - Glasgow's flyhalf Calum MacGregor once gave this tribute of his boss: "Kevin Greene, the Glasgow coach, is the kind of man who makes the players think for themselves, like Ian McGeechan, and I prefer that to the blood-and-thunder approach. I have enjoyed playing for Glasgow this year more than any other. I look around at the young guys in the team and they are keen and excited and that makes me feel good about the game. The players have a belief in it and a desire to win and I like that."[3] - this backdrop of resentment against the professional districts created a shaky start for the Glasgow team.
Team
Coaches
- Head coach: Kevin Greene[4]
- Assistant coach: Gordon Macpherson[4]
Squad
|
Hookers Props Locks |
Loose forwards Scrum halves Fly halves |
Centres Back Three |
Academy players
None
Player statistics
During the 1996–97 season, Glasgow have used 30 different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and points scored by each player.
| Position | Nation | Name | Scottish Inter-District Championship | European Conference | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps (sub) |
Tries | Points kicked |
Apps (sub) |
Tries | Points kicked |
Apps (sub) |
Total Pts | |||
| HK | | Gordon Bulloch | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| PR | | Gordon McIlwham | 3 | 0 | 0 | (1) | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 |
| PR | | Alan Perrie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| PR | | Brian Robertson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| LK | | Charles Afuakwah | 0 | 0 | 0 | (1) | 0 | 0 | (1) | 0 |
| LK | | Stephen Begley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| LK | | Shade Munro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| LK | | Malcolm Norval | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| BR | | Gordon Mackay | 0 | 0 | 0 | (3) | 1 | 0 | (3) | 5 |
| BR | | David McLeish | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| BR | | David McVey | 0 | 0 | 0 | (1) | 0 | 0 | (1) | 0 |
| BR | | John Shaw | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| BR | | Fergus Wallace | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| BR | | Murray Wallace | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| SH | | Jamie Weston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| SH | | Fraser Stott | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 0 |
| FH | | Kenny Baillie | 0 | 0 | 0 | (1) | 0 | 0 | (1) | 0 |
| FH | | George Breckenridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 18 | 1(2) | 18 |
| FH | | Andrew Garry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FH | | Cameron Little | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 1 | 3 | 1(2) | 8 |
| FH | | Calum MacGregor | 3 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 34 |
| FH | | John MacLeod | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| CE | | Harry Bassi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| CE | | Alan Bulloch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 |
| CE | | Ian Jardine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| WG | | James Craig | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 25 |
| WG | | Kenny Logan | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 31 |
| WG | | Derek Stark | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
| FB | | Glenn Metcalfe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 1 | 0 | 5(1) | 5 |
| FB | | Craig Sangster | 2(1) | 0 | 0 | 3(2) | 0 | 5 | 5(3) | 5 |
Staff movements
Personnel in
Personnel out
None
Player movements
Academy promotions
None
Player transfers
InNone |
OutNone
|
Competitions
Pre-season and friendlies
None.
European Challenge Cup
The previous year's Scottish Inter-District Championship was a forgettable one for Glasgow who finished last. This meant that the SRU did not enter Glasgow in the Heineken Cup for the new season 1996-97. Instead Glasgow entered the lower European tournament, the Challenge Cup, or as it was then known the European Conference, in Pool A. This was one of 4 Pools in the tournament and Glasgow was Scotland's only representative.
Kevin Greene, the Glasgow coach, later admitted that preparation for Glasgow's first foray into Europe was poor. He recalled the first game against Newbridge: "We had no information at all on Newbridge. We should at least have had some data and perhaps even a video, but the SRU had nothing. It made preparation very awkward."[8]
Pool A
| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Agen |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 9 | +11 | 156 | 82 | +74 | 10 |
| Montferrand |
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 8 | +22 | 211 | 74 | +137 | 8 |
 Sale Sharks |
5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 166 | 115 | +51 | 6 |
 Newport |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 19 | −15 | 98 | 158 | −60 | 4 |
| Glasgow |
5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 30 | −15 | 113 | 202 | −89 | 2 |
| Newbridge |
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 33 | −17 | 106 | 219 | −113 | 0 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-08-20 at archive.today | |||||||||||
Round 1
| 12 October 1996 |
| Newbridge RFC | 38-62 | Glasgow |
| Try: Leighton Winder Hayden Jeffreys Joe Powell Simon Jenkins Glyn Harding Con: Jason Williams x 4 | Preview Report | Try: Kenny Logan x 2 Derek Stark x 4 Alan Bulloch x 2 Glenn Metcalfe Cameron Little Con: Calum MacGregor x 6 |
| The Welfare Ground Referee: Ashley Rowden (RFU) |
Round 2
| 16 October 1996 |
| Glasgow | 9 – 29 | Sale Sharks |
| Pen: George Breckenridge x 3 | Preview Preview Report | Try: John Fowler x 3 Con: Andy Griffin Pen: Andy Griffin x 4 |
| Hughenden Stadium Referee: Bernard Perez (FFR) |
Round 3
| 19 October 1996 |
| Montferrand | 76 – 9 | Glasgow |
| Try: Gilles Darlet Raphael Saint-Andre Gérald Merceron David Bory x 2 Christophe Larrue Eric Lecomte Arnaud Costes Jean-Marc Lhermet Nicolas Nadau Con: Gérald Merceron x 6 Pen: Gérald Merceron Drop: Eric Nicol | Preview Preview Report Report | Pen: George Breckenridge x 3 |
| Stade Marcel-Michelin Referee: Gerry Wallis (RFU) |
Round 4
| 26 October 1996 2.30pm |
| Newport RFC | 25-10 | Glasgow |
| Try: David Smith Martyn Lleweyen Shaun Connor Con: Shaun Connor Alex Lawson Pen: Shaun Connor x2 | Preview Preview Report Report Report | Try: Fergus Wallace Con: Craig Sangster Pen: Craig Sangster |
| Rodney Parade Referee: Ed Morrison (RFU) |
Round 5
| 30 October 1996 |
| Glasgow | 23 – 34 | Agen |
| Try: James Craig x 2 Jamie Weston Gordon Mackay Pen: Cameron Little | Preview Preview Report Report | Try: Vincent Thomas Laurent Loubere Jean-Francois Mateo David Lagrange x 2 Con: Stephane Prosper x 3 Drop: Stephane Prosper |
| Hughenden Referee: Claudio Giacomel (FIR) |
Scottish Inter-District Championship
It was decided that the Scottish Inter-District Championship places would decide which Scottish sides would enter the Heineken Cup and which would enter the European Challenge Cup.
The 4 newly professional district teams Glasgow Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby, Border Reivers and Caledonia Reds would play off for the Championship. As this decided European places it was decided that it was not appropriate for London Scottish or a Scottish Exiles side to be invited into the Championship.
Each team would play one another only once, swapping home and away each year. With only 4 teams this meant that the Championship was decided by each team playing just 3 matches.
The top 3 sides qualified for the Heineken Cup next season and the fourth qualified for the Challenge Cup. Due to the weather Glasgow's match against Edinburgh was switched to Murrayfield as its undersoil heating was best placed to deal with frost. Glasgow lost their final match against Caledonia Reds and finished 2nd behind the Reds. Caledonia Reds, the Border Reivers and Glasgow qualified for the Heineken Cup for the next season.
1996-97 League Table
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caledonia Reds | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 77 | 53 | +24 | 5 |
| Glasgow | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 73 | 57 | +16 | 4 |
| Border Reivers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 61 | -2 | 3 |
| Edinburgh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 69 | -34 | 0 |
Round 1
| 22 December 1996 |
| Glasgow | 23 – 13 | Edinburgh |
| Try: Calum MacGregor Derek Stark Kenny Logan Con: Kenny Logan Pen: Calum MacGregor Drop: Calum MacGregor | Preview Report Report | Try: Patterson Con: Duncan Hodge Pen: Duncan Hodge x 2 |
| Murrayfield Stadium Referee: K McCartney |
Round 2
| 29 December 1996 |
| Border Reivers | 24 – 36 | Glasgow |
| Try: Bennett Nichol Davidson Pen: Parker x 3 | Preview Report Report | Try: Kenny Logan x 2 James Craig x 2 David McLeish Con: Calum MacGregor x 4 Pen: Calum MacGregor |
| Murrayfield Stadium Referee: Jim Fleming |
Round 3
| 5 January 1997 |
| Caledonia Reds | 20 – 14 | Glasgow |
| Try: Shaun Longstaff x 2 John Kerr Con: Mark McKenzie Pen: Mark McKenzie | Report Report | Try: Derek Stark James Craig Con: Kenny Logan x 2 |
| Murrayfield Stadium Referee: I Ramage |
Competitive debuts this season
A player's nationality shown is taken from the nationality at the highest honour for the national side obtained; or if never capped internationally their place of birth. Senior caps take precedence over junior caps or place of birth; junior caps take precedence over place of birth. A player's nationality at debut may be different from the nationality shown. Combination sides like the British and Irish Lions or Pacific Islanders are not national sides, or nationalities.
Players in BOLD font have been capped by their senior international XV side as nationality shown.
Players in Italic font have capped either by their international 7s side; or by the international XV 'A' side as nationality shown.
Players in normal font have not been capped at senior level.
A position in parentheses indicates that the player debuted as a substitute. A player may have made a prior debut for Glasgow Warriors in a non-competitive match, 'A' match or 7s match; these matches are not listed.
Tournaments where competitive debut made:
Crosshatching indicates a jointly hosted match.
References
- Jim Telfer. Looking back... for once. ISBN 1-84596-062-9.
- "Logan and Hastings are still negotiating with the union but . . . Professional era dawns as 36 sign SRU contracts". Herald Scotland.
- "Farewell to an all-time great stand-off". Herald Scotland.
- "No Headline Present". Herald Scotland.
- "Fyfe is seeing red over reports". Herald Scotland.
- "Squad prepare soon for Europe". Herald Scotland.
- "Munro gives Glasgow a French boost". Herald Scotland.
- "HERALD RECALLS HAWKS CONTRIBUTION TO GLASGOW CAUSE". glasgowhawks.com.
- "Glasgow boost". Herald Scotland.