Glasgow Hawks

In Paris on 27th August 1995 a meeting of the International Rugby Board declared that amateurism was no more.

It is worth noting that, at the end of the league season immediately following this historical decision (1995/96), Watsonians played Melrose in the deciding game for the league title in front of a crowd of 5,000!

At that time there were differing views as to whether Districts or Premier clubs in Scotland would take the game forward into the professional era and, with a number of top Glasgow players moving east, Glasgow rugby was looking extremely vulnerable.

It was suggested that hell would freeze over before Glasgow Academicals (1866) and GHK(1884) might merge but during season 1996/97 Brian Simmers decided it was worth looking at. After meetings with the SRU, Dunc Paterson, Bill Watson, Jim Telfer and Bill Hogg, and meetings with senior players from both clubs , Fergus and Murray Wallace, Walter Malcolm, Cammy Little, Gordon Mackay, Chas Afuakwah, Stuart Simmers , he produced a proposal for rugby at Anniesland which created a new club, Glasgow Hawks, but retained the “founder” clubs, Glasgow Academicals and GHK. Discussions had also taken place with West of Scotland to come on board but these did not progress. However the “W” in HAWKS still remains!

This initial structure was finalised with the help of Sandy Neilson(GHK), Lorne Crerar (GHK), Richard Eadie(GHK), Graham McKnight(GA), Sandy Bannerman(GAC), David Jerdan(GHK), Kenny Hamilton(GHK), David Williams(GHK) and Hugh Barrow and it was agreed that this was preferable to a straight merger as it would maximise player numbers at Old and New Anniesland. Ownership of Glasgow Hawks RFC Limited would be one share (50%) each held by Glasgow Academicals Sports Club (now Glasgow Academical Club) and GHK (now Glasgow High School Club Ltd.). It was also agreed that Hawks 1 st XV would play alternately at Old and New with the 2nd XV playing at the unused ground. (For cost and facility reasons Hawks moved entirely to Old Anniesland in 2001 and as a result of poor ground conditions, Hawks 2 nd XV agreed, in 2007, to play at New Anniesland).

Brian Simmers established with the SRU that Hawks would take over the top club’s (GHK) position in Premier 2 from the end of season 1996/97 but was unable to persuade them to allow GHK and Accies a position in the National Divisions and they therefore had to start at the foot of the Regionals.

This structure was presented to each of the “founder” clubs at EGMs, both held on 3rd June 1997, and a massive majority at each club agreed the proposal. Glasgow Hawks was in business! In June 2003 Glasgow Hawks became a full member of the SRU.

In season 1997/98 contracted players were playing for Premier 1 clubs and Hawks, funded by generous sponsors, had managed to pull together a formidable squad. The majority were Scottish representative players with eventual internationalists Glenn Metcalfe, Derek Stark and Murray Wallace joined by Cook Island internationalists Tommy Hayes and Mike Beckham. Hawks won the second division league title, the Scottish Cup and were 2 nd XV league champions. At the end of this very successful season 8 players moved out of Hawks to professional rugby in Scotland and beyond.

1999/2000 Hawks lost to Boroughmuir in the Scottish Cup Final and played the Co-optimists to mark the opening of the Jimmie Ireland stand at Old Anniesland and combined with West of Scotland, again to play the Co-optimists, to mark the opening of their new stand at Burnbrae.
2001/02 Hawks are runners-up to Hawick (losing in extra time) in the Scottish Cup Final.

2003/04 Hawks win Premier 1 Championship, Scottish Cup and 2nd XV Championship.
2004/05 Hawks retain Premier 1 and 2nd XV LeagueChampionships
2005/06 Hawks secure the hattrick of Premier 1 Championships at Meggetland, the first time in 80 years that a club from Glasgow has achieved this honour.
2006/07 Hawks win the Scottish Cup for the third time and in May 2007 beat the Royal Navy in a memorial match for Craig Hodgkinson.

It has always been a policy of Hawks to test themselves against “foreign” opposition: 1998, Toulouse, France
1999, Athletico Rosario, Argentina
2003, Tour of South Africa (3 matches)

2004, Sale Academy
2005, Racing Club of France
2006, Capitolina, Rome.
All of these games were won except against Capitolina.

It is perhaps worth noting that Hawks has obviously accepted the introduction of the professional districts and agree with the decision by the SRU in 2007 to reduce the number of districts to two on the grounds that they are effectively funded and therefore should become successful in Celtic and European competition which must be of benefit to the national team.

Hawks also believe that the next level below these teams should be Premier 1, which should include periphery professional and academy players, playing in their club of origin, competing in a strong domestic league and in a X Border competition against the English Academy sides thus creating a very strong second tier of semi professional rugby.

In their “foreign” fixtures Hawks has proved time and again that Premier 1 clubs can succeed at that level and as a result Hawks has been able to serve the Scottish game effectively by preparing and producing players capable of taking the next step into professional and international rugby.

Article courtesy of Glasgow Hawks website.