1996–97 Glasgow Warriors season

August 2015 October 2023 October 2023 1996–97 Glasgow Warriors season Hughenden Stadium 6,000 NZL Kevin Greene SCO Gordon Bulloch 1996–97 Scottish Inter-District Championship 2nd SCO Derek Stark (6) SCO Calum MacGregor (34) _glasgowwarriors9697h _glasgowwarriors969 _glasgowwarriors9697h 000000 000000 000000 000030 000030 Glasgow District 1997–98 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. 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 - 24.978-1-84596-062-9 Looking back... for once Jim Telfer 5 November 2023 Mainstream Publishing Company, Limited Jim Telfer registration https://archive.org/details/jimtelferlooking0000telf 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.http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12126523.Logan_and_Hastings_are_still_negotiating_with_the_union_but_______Professional_era_dawns_as_36_sign_SRU_contracts/ Logan and Hastings are still negotiating with the union but . . . Professional era dawns as 36 sign SRU contracts Herald Scotland 11 October 1996 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. 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. 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. 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."http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12122692.Farewell_to_an_all_time_great_stand_off/ Farewell to an all-time great stand-off Herald Scotland 7 January 1997 - this backdrop of resentment against the professional districts created a shaky start for the Glasgow team. Team Coaches Head coach: NZL rugby union Kevin Greenehttp://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12034652.No_Headline_Present/ No Headline Present Herald Scotland 26 August 1996 Assistant coach: NZL rugby union Gordon Macpherson Manager Convenor / Team Manager: SCO Hamish Fyfehttp://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12084563.Fyfe_is_seeing_red_over_reports/ Fyfe is seeing red over reports Herald Scotland 24 October 1996 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12322964.Squad_prepare_soon_for_Europe/ Squad prepare soon for Europe Herald Scotland 6 May 1997 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12126307.Munro_gives_Glasgow_a_French_boost/ Munro gives Glasgow a French boost Herald Scotland 15 October 1996 Squad  Hookers SCO Gordon Bulloch Props SCO Gordon McIlwham ENG Danny Porte SCO Alan Perrie SCO Brian Robertson Locks SCO Charles Afuakwah SCO Stephen Begley SCO Shade Munro SCO Malcolm Norval SCO Guy Perrett Loose forwards SCO Gordon Mackay SCO David McLeish SCO David McVey SCO John Shaw SCO Fergus Wallace SCO Murray Wallace Scrum halves SCO Fraser Stott SCO Jamie Weston Fly halves SCO Kenny Baillie SCO George Breckenridge SCO Andrew Garry SCO Cameron Little SCO Calum MacGregor SCO John MacLeod Centres SCO Alan Bulloch SCO Harry Bassi SCO Ian Jardine SCO James McLaren Back Three SCO James Craig SCO Kenny Logan SCO Glenn Metcalfe SCO Derek Stark SCO Craig Sangster  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 TotalApps(sub)TriesPointskickedApps(sub)TriesPointskickedApps(sub)Total Pts HKSCOGordon Bulloch30050080PRSCOGordon McIlwham300(1)003(1)0PRSCOAlan Perrie00050050PRSCOBrian Robertson30050080LKSCOCharles Afuakwah000(1)00(1)0LKSCOStephen Begley10040050LKSCOShade Munro30010040LKSCOMalcolm Norval20050070BRSCOGordon Mackay000(3)10(3)5BRSCODavid McLeish31050085BRSCODavid McVey000(1)00(1)0BRSCO John Shaw00050050BRSCOFergus Wallace30051085BRSCOMurray Wallace30000030SHSCOJamie Weston00031035SHSCOFraser Stott3001(1)004(1)0FHSCOKenny Baillie000(1)00(1)0FHSCOGeorge Breckenridge0001(2)0181(2)18FHSCOAndrew Garry30010040FHSCOCameron Little0001(2)131(2)8FHSCOCalum MacGregor31171012434FHSCOJohn MacLeod00030030CESCOHarry Bassi00020020CESCOAlan Bulloch100520610CESCOIan Jardine00010010WGSCOJames Craig230220425WGSCOKenny Logan336220531WGSCODerek Stark320440730FBSCOGlenn Metcalfe1004(1)105(1)5FBSCOCraig Sangster2(1)003(2)055(3)5 Staff movements Coaches Personnel in NZL rugby union Kevin Greene from SCO Glasgow Academicals NZL rugby union Gordon Macpherson from SCO West of Scotland Personnel out None Player movements Academy promotions None Player transfers In None Out None 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."http://old.glasgowhawks.com/news/11784 HERALD RECALLS HAWKS CONTRIBUTION TO GLASGOW CAUSE glasgowhawks.com Pool A TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts FRA Agen5500209+1115682+7410 FRA Montferrand5401308+2221174+1378 ENG Sale Sharks53021814+4166115+516 WAL Newport52031419−1598158−604 SCO Glasgow51041530−15113202−892 WAL Newbridge50051633−17106219−1130 Source : www.ercrugby.com https://archive.today/20130820235208/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/amlinchallengecup/pools/index.php?includeref=478&season=1996-1997 2013-08-20 Results Round 1 12 October 1996 Newbridge RFC WAL 38-62 PreviewReport SCO Glasgow Leighton WinderHayden JeffreysJoe PowellSimon JenkinsGlyn Harding Jason Williams x 4 Kenny Logan x 2Derek Stark x 4Alan Bulloch x 2Glenn MetcalfeCameron Little Calum MacGregor x 6 The Welfare Ground Ashley Rowden (RFU) Round 2 16 October 1996 Glasgow SCO 9 – 29 PreviewPreviewReport ENG Sale Sharks George Breckenridge x 3 John Fowler x 3 Andy Griffin Andy Griffin x 4 Hughenden Stadium Bernard Perez (FFR) Round 3 19 October 1996 Montferrand FRA 76 – 9 PreviewPreviewReportReport SCO Glasgow Gilles DarletRaphael Saint-AndreGérald MerceronDavid Bory x 2Christophe LarrueEric LecomteArnaud CostesJean-Marc LhermetNicolas Nadau Gérald Merceron x 6 Gérald Merceron Eric Nicol George Breckenridge x 3 Stade Marcel-Michelin Gerry Wallis (RFU) Round 4 26 October 1996 2.30pm Newport RFC WAL 25-10 PreviewPreviewReportReportReport SCO Glasgow David SmithMartyn LleweyenShaun Connor Shaun ConnorAlex Lawson Shaun Connor x2 Fergus Wallace Craig Sangster Craig Sangster Rodney Parade Ed Morrison (RFU) Round 5 30 October 1996 Glasgow SCO 23 – 34 PreviewPreviewReportReport FRA Agen James Craig x 2Jamie WestonGordon Mackay Cameron Little Vincent ThomasLaurent LoubereJean-Francois MateoDavid Lagrange x 2 Stephane Prosper x 3 Stephane Prosper Hughenden 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 TeamPWDLPFPA+/-Pts Caledonia Reds32107753+245 Glasgow32017357+164 Border Reivers31115961-23 Edinburgh30033569-340 Results Round 1 22 December 1996 Glasgow 23 – 13 PreviewReportReport Edinburgh Calum MacGregorDerek StarkKenny Logan Kenny Logan Calum MacGregor Calum MacGregor Patterson Duncan Hodge Duncan Hodge x 2 Murrayfield Stadium K McCartney Round 2 29 December 1996 Border Reivers 24 – 36 PreviewReportReport Glasgow BennettNicholDavidson Parker x 3 Kenny Logan x 2James Craig x 2David McLeish Calum MacGregor x 4 Calum MacGregor Murrayfield Stadium Jim Fleming Round 3 5 January 1997 Caledonia Reds 20 – 14 ReportReport Glasgow Shaun Longstaff x 2John Kerr Mark McKenzie Mark McKenzie Derek StarkJames Craig Kenny Logan x 2 Murrayfield Stadium 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: Scottish Inter-District Championship Welsh–Scottish LeagueWRU Challenge Cup Celtic LeagueCeltic Cup 1872 Cup Pro12 Pro14 Rainbow CupUnited Rugby ChampionshipEuropean Challenge CupHeineken 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 debut1SCOPerrieAlan PerrieProp1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil2SCOBullochGordon BullochHooker1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil3SCORobertsonBrian RobertsonProp1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil4SCOBegleyStephen BegleyLock1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil5SCONorvalMalcolm NorvalLock1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil6SCOWallaceFergus WallaceFlanker1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil7SCOShawJohn ShawFlanker1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil8SCOMcLeishDavid McLeishNo. 81996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil9SCOStottFraser StottScrum half1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil10SCOMacGregorCalum MacGregorFly half1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWin12 pts11SCOMetcalfeGlenn MetcalfeWing1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWin5 pts12SCOBassiHarry BassiCentre1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil13SCOBullochAlan BullochCentre1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWin10 pts14SCOStarkDerek StarkWing1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWin20 pts15SCOLoganKenny LoganFull back1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWin10 pts16SCOLittleCameron Little(Scrum half)1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWin5 pts17SCOBreckenridgeGeorge Breckenridge(Wing)1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil18SCOSangsterCraig Sangster(full back)1996-10-12AwayThe Welfare GroundWALNewbridgeEuropean Challenge CupWinNil19SCOWestonJamie WestonScrum half1996-10-16HomeHughenden StadiumENGSale SharksEuropean Challenge CupLossNil20SCOMacLeodJohn MacLeodFly half1996-10-16HomeHughenden StadiumENGSale SharksEuropean Challenge CupLossNil21SCOBaillieKenny Baillie(Fly-half)1996-10-16HomeHughenden StadiumENGSale SharksEuropean Challenge CupLossNil22SCOMackayGordon Mackay(Flanker)1996-10-16HomeHughenden StadiumENGSale SharksEuropean Challenge CupLossNil23SCOWallaceMurray WallaceFlanker1996-10-19AwayStade Marcel-MichelinFRAAS MontferrandEuropean Challenge CupLossNil24GHAAfuakwahCharles AfuakwahLock1996-10-19AwayStade Marcel-MichelinFRAAS MontferrandEuropean Challenge CupLossNil25SCOMunroShade MunroLock1996-10-26AwayRodney ParadeWALNewportEuropean Challenge CupLossNil26SCOCraigJames CraigWing1996-10-26AwayRodney ParadeWALNewportEuropean Challenge CupLossNil27SCOJardineIan JardineCentre1996-10-26AwayRodney ParadeWALNewportEuropean Challenge CupLossNil28SCOMcVeyDavid McVey(No. 8)1996-10-26AwayRodney ParadeWALNewportEuropean Challenge CupLossNil29SCOGarryAndrew GarryFly half1996-10-30HomeHughenden StadiumFRAAgenEuropean Challenge CupLossNil30SCOMcIlwhamGordon McIlwhamProp1996-10-30HomeHughenden StadiumFRAAgenEuropean Challenge CupLossNil31ENGPorteDanny Porte(Prop)1997-01-05AwayMurrayfield StadiumSCOCaledonia RedsScottish Inter-District ChampionshipLossNil Sponsorship Main Sponsor Dundas & Wilsonhttp://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12124147.Glasgow_boost/ Glasgow boost Herald Scotland 10 October 1996 Official kit supplier Canterbury References 30em 1996-97 Category:1996–97 in Scottish rugby union Category:1996–97 European Challenge Cup