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.

1996–97 Glasgow Warriors season
Ground(s)Hughenden Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)
Coach(es)New Zealand Kevin Greene
Captain(s)Scotland Gordon Bulloch
Top scorerScotland Calum MacGregor (34)
Most triesScotland Derek Stark (6)
League(s)1996–97 Scottish Inter-District Championship
2nd
Team kit

This season saw Glasgow Rugby compete in the Scottish Inter-District Championship and the European Challenge Cup.

Overview

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Formation of the professional side

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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

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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 to 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

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Coaches

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Manager

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Convenor / Team Manager:   Hamish Fyfe[5][6] [7]

Squad

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Hookers
  Gordon Bulloch

Props
  Gordon McIlwham
  Danny Porte
  Alan Perrie
  Brian Robertson

Locks
  Charles Afuakwah
  Stephen Begley
  Shade Munro
  Malcolm Norval
  Guy Perrett

 

Loose forwards
  Gordon Mackay
  David McLeish
  David McVey
  John Shaw
  Fergus Wallace
  Murray Wallace

Scrum halves
  Fraser Stott
  Jamie Weston

Fly halves
  Kenny Baillie
  George Breckenridge
  Andrew Garry
  Cameron Little
  Calum MacGregor
  John MacLeod

 

Centres
  Alan Bulloch
  Harry Bassi
  Ian Jardine
  James McLaren

Back Three
  James Craig
  Kenny Logan
  Glenn Metcalfe
  Derek Stark
  Craig Sangster

 

Academy players

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None

Player statistics

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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

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Coaches

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Personnel in

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Personnel out

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None

Player movements

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Academy promotions

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None

Player transfers

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Competitions

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Pre-season and friendlies

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None.

European Challenge Cup

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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

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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

Results

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Round 1
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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
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16 October 1996
Glasgow  9 – 29  Sale Sharks
Pen: George Breckenridge x 3Preview
Preview
Report
Try: John Fowler x 3
Con: Andy Griffin
Pen: Andy Griffin x 4
Hughenden Stadium
Referee: Bernard Perez (FFR)
Round 3
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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
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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
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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

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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

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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

Results

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Round 1
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Round 2
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29 December 1996
Border Reivers24 – 36Glasgow
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
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Competitive debuts this season

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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:

Scottish Inter-District Championship Welsh–Scottish League WRU Challenge Cup Celtic League Celtic Cup 1872 Cup Pro12 Pro14 Rainbow Cup United Rugby Championship European Challenge Cup Heineken Cup / European Champions Cup

Crosshatching indicates a jointly hosted match.

Number Player nationality Name Position Date of debut Venue Stadium Opposition nationality Opposition side Tournament Match result Scoring debut
1   PerrieAlan Perrie Prop 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
2   BullochGordon Bulloch Hooker 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
3   RobertsonBrian Robertson Prop 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
4   BegleyStephen Begley Lock 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
5   NorvalMalcolm Norval Lock 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
6   WallaceFergus Wallace Flanker 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
7   ShawJohn Shaw Flanker 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
8   McLeishDavid McLeish No. 8 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
9   StottFraser Stott Scrum half 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
10   MacGregorCalum MacGregor Fly half 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win 12 pts
11   MetcalfeGlenn Metcalfe Wing 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win 5 pts
12   BassiHarry Bassi Centre 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
13   BullochAlan Bulloch Centre 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win 10 pts
14   StarkDerek Stark Wing 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win 20 pts
15   LoganKenny Logan Full back 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win 10 pts
16   LittleCameron Little (Scrum half) 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win 5 pts
17   BreckenridgeGeorge Breckenridge (Wing) 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
18   SangsterCraig Sangster (full back) 1996-10-12 Away The Welfare Ground   Newbridge European Challenge Cup Win Nil
19   WestonJamie Weston Scrum half 1996-10-16 Home Hughenden Stadium   Sale Sharks European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
20   MacLeodJohn MacLeod Fly half 1996-10-16 Home Hughenden Stadium   Sale Sharks European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
21   BaillieKenny Baillie (Fly-half) 1996-10-16 Home Hughenden Stadium   Sale Sharks European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
22   MackayGordon Mackay (Flanker) 1996-10-16 Home Hughenden Stadium   Sale Sharks European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
23   WallaceMurray Wallace Flanker 1996-10-19 Away Stade Marcel-Michelin   AS Montferrand European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
24   AfuakwahCharles Afuakwah Lock 1996-10-19 Away Stade Marcel-Michelin   AS Montferrand European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
25   MunroShade Munro Lock 1996-10-26 Away Rodney Parade   Newport European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
26   CraigJames Craig Wing 1996-10-26 Away Rodney Parade   Newport European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
27   JardineIan Jardine Centre 1996-10-26 Away Rodney Parade   Newport European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
28   McVeyDavid McVey (No. 8) 1996-10-26 Away Rodney Parade   Newport European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
29   GarryAndrew Garry Fly half 1996-10-30 Home Hughenden Stadium   Agen European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
30   McIlwhamGordon McIlwham Prop 1996-10-30 Home Hughenden Stadium   Agen European Challenge Cup Loss Nil
31   PorteDanny Porte (Prop) 1997-01-05 Away Murrayfield Stadium   Caledonia Reds Scottish Inter-District Championship Loss Nil

Sponsorship

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Main Sponsor

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Official kit supplier

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Canterbury

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jim Telfer (5 November 2023). Looking back... for once. Mainstream Publishing Company, Limited. ISBN 978-1-84596-062-9.
  2. ^ a b "Logan and Hastings are still negotiating with the union but . . . Professional era dawns as 36 sign SRU contracts". Herald Scotland. 11 October 1996.
  3. ^ "Farewell to an all-time great stand-off". Herald Scotland. 7 January 1997.
  4. ^ a b "No Headline Present". Herald Scotland. 26 August 1996.
  5. ^ a b "Fyfe is seeing red over reports". Herald Scotland. 24 October 1996.
  6. ^ "Squad prepare soon for Europe". Herald Scotland. 6 May 1997.
  7. ^ "Munro gives Glasgow a French boost". Herald Scotland. 15 October 1996.
  8. ^ "HERALD RECALLS HAWKS CONTRIBUTION TO GLASGOW CAUSE". glasgowhawks.com.
  9. ^ "Glasgow boost". Herald Scotland. 10 October 1996.