Glasgow Hutchesons Aloysians RFC - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Glasgow Hutchesons' Aloysians Rugby Football Club, colloquially referred to as G-HA!! (ˈdʒiːhɑː), is a Scottish Rugby Union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

club based in the Giffnock

Giffnock

Giffnock is a wealthy, dormitory suburb of Glasgow in the East Renfrewshire Council area, within the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...

area of Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

, which currently plays in Scottish Premiership Division Three. 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. 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

Hutchesons' Grammar School

Hutchesons' Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in the southside of Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by the brothers George Hutcheson and Thomas Hutcheson in 1641 and was opened originally to teach orphans, starting with "twelve male children, indigent orphans".In 1876 a girls'...

and St. Aloysius' College

St. Aloysius' College, Glasgow

St. Aloysius' College is a selective fee-paying independent Jesuit school in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded in 1859, and named after the famous Jesuit, Aloysius Gonzaga. Its strong Jesuit ethos emphasises practice of the Roman Catholic faith both in the church and in the community, with many...

. 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

Auldhouse

Auldhouse is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated south of the River Clyde....

, the school’s sports ground in Thornliebank

Thornliebank

Thornliebank is a small suburban village in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, south of Glasgow. It is served by Thornliebank railway station and lies to the east of the M77 motorway.-History:...

. 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.

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.

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

Gordon Bulloch

Gordon Bulloch is a rugby union player who is hooker for West of Scotland F.C. and formerly Scotland. Gordon Bulloch is Scotland’s third most capped player with a total of 75 and their most-capped hooker. He previously played for Glasgow and Leeds Tykes.Gordon has played for Scotland at U19 and...

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.

Clarkston R.F.C.

Unlike 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

Allan Glen's School

Allan Glen's School was for most of its existence a selective fee-paying independent secondary school for boys in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by the Allan Glen's Endowment Scholarship Trust on the death in 1850 of Allan Glen, a successful Glasgow tradesman and businessman, "to give a good...

.

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, 250 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

Euan Murray

Euan Murray is a Scottish rugby union footballer, formerly playing for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership competition before joining Newcastle Falcons. He has also played for the Scotland national team. He was a part of their 2007 Six Nations squad, and scored a try in their final game...

while others have achieved selection at Youth level.

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 - the 1st XV, the 2nd XV and Braidholm RFC who act as a feeder club

Farm team

In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...

. 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. Subsequently, the club spent three seasons playing in Premiership Division Two from 2008 to 2011. Despite challenging in the top half of Premier 2 between 2008 and 2010, GHA were unable to regain promotion to Premier 1. Season 2010/11 was to prove one of the most challenging in the club's history and the loss of several of the club's most experienced players combined with injury to several key players were major factors in the 1st XV being relegated to Premiership Division Three.

Current 1st XV Squad

Scotland U20/U21 Age Grade Internationalists

The following players gained either Under 20 or Under 21 Age Grade International honours whilst playing senior rugby at GHA.

Under 21 (Age group was disbanded after 2006 season)

Euan Murray
Euan Murray
Euan Murray is a Scottish rugby union footballer, formerly playing for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership competition before joining Newcastle Falcons. He has also played for the Scotland national team. He was a part of their 2007 Six Nations squad, and scored a try in their final game...

- 1999, 2000, 2001
Justin Reid - 2003
A J MacFarlane - 2005
John W. Beattie
Johnnie Beattie
John William "Johnnie" Beattie is a Scottish rugby union player who plays for Glasgow Warriors at the number 8 position.-Background:...

- 2005
James Eddie - 2005
Iain Kennedy - 2005, 2006
Calum Forrester
Calum Forrester
Calum Forrester is a professional Scottish rugby player playing for Scottish side the Glasgow Warriors.-Early life and rugby career:Forrester attended Hutchesons Grammar School. He has had two years studying sports science at Glasgow University, and is currently on an Open University course...

- 2006

Under 20 (Age group replaced Under 21s from 2007 onwards)

Peter Jericevich
Peter Jericevich
Peter Kena Jericevich is a rugby union player from Scotland who has played for Doncaster Knights in the English RFU Championship. Peter is a former Scotland Age Group International and Scotland Under 19 Player of the Season . He has also played for the Scotland 7 a side team, representing his...

- 2008

Centurions Club

The following players have made 100 or more appearances for GHA's 1st XV (note that some players also played for the constituent clubs and their appearances for those clubs have been included in their total). These totals are accurate as of the end of season 2010/11.

Player	Appearances
Rory Watson	174^†
Ian Smith	161^*
Richard Nolan	154^*
James Noonan	152^*
Alistair Menzies	133^*
Zander McIlwham	128^*
Martin Dunn	108^†
Trevor Carmichael	108^†
Niall Cassie	106
Andrew Richardson	105^*
Andrew Healy	103^*
Ross McClymont	102
John Fitzpatrick	102^†
Andrew Rushforth	100
Dom Sharkey	100^*

_{^*Appearances include games played for Glasgow Southern/Clarkston}

_{^†Appearances include games played for Hutchesons' Aloysians}

Junior Rugby

GHA has a large junior rugby section consisting of over 250 boys and girls 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

Glasgow Warriors

The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...

.

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

Williamwood High School

Williamwood High School, located in Busby, East Renfrewshire, is a non denominational state school. It has a school roll of over 1600 pupils and was recently built, replacing the old school on Seres road in Williamwood...

and Mearns Castle High School

Mearns Castle High School

For schools of the same name, see Castle High School.Mearns Castle High School is a secondary school situated on Waterfoot Road in Newton Mearns, an affluent commuter town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland roughly seven miles from Glasgow. Built in 1978, pupils from Mearns Primary, Eaglesham Primary,...

whose pupils and former pupils are also widely represented throughout the club.

Notable former players

This is a list of former GHA players who had or went on to gain full-time professional contracts within a full-time professional rugby squad and/or achieved senior International, International A or International 7s

Rugby sevens

Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...

Honours.

This list does not include players who were allocated to play for GHA in the Scottish Rugby draft whereby players from Scotland's full time professional squads - Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Edinburgh Rugby and the now defunct Border Reivers

Border Reivers (Rugby)

Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' and also known as 'The Borders' were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors....

- 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 Internationals Johnnie Beattie

Johnnie Beattie

John William "Johnnie" Beattie is a Scottish rugby union player who plays for Glasgow Warriors at the number 8 position.-Background:...

and John Barclay

John Barclay

John Barclay may refer to:*John Barclay , Scottish satirist and Latin poet*John Barclay , Scottish theological writer*John Barclay , Canadian Church of Scotland clergyman...

being allocated to play for them.

Post the 2002 amalgamation

Active: James Eddie - Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Scotland A, Scotland 7s

Scotland national rugby union team (sevens)

The Scottish national rugby union sevens team compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.During 2006, the side were in danger of no longer competing in the Sevens World Series due to the financial problems faced by the Scottish Rugby Union...

Calum Forrester

Calum Forrester is a professional Scottish rugby player playing for Scottish side the Glasgow Warriors.-Early life and rugby career:Forrester attended Hutchesons Grammar School. He has had two years studying sports science at Glasgow University, and is currently on an Open University course...

- Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Scotland A, Scotland 7s

Scotland national rugby union team (sevens)

Jon Welsh

Jon Welsh is a Scottish rugby union player currently playing for Glasgow Warriors.-External links:*...

- Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Scotland A Scott Cowan

Scott Cowan

Scott Cowan is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a halfback for the Southland Stags. He is the younger brother of All Blacks halfback, Jimmy Cowan.-Provincial Rugby:...

- Southland

Southland Rugby

The Southland Rugby Football Union is a provincial rugby union who govern the Southland Region founded in 1886. The headquarters of Southland Rugby are in Invercargill, New Zealand however the Southland Union also covers country teams such as Midlands of Winton and Excelsior Rugby Club of Gore.The...

, Otago Highlanders Andrew Kelly - Formerly Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, now with Ayr

Ayr RFC

Ayr Rugby Football Club are a rugby union side, currently playing in the Premiership Division One.The team are based in Ayr in Scotland, and they play at Millbrae, Alloway.-Millbrae:...

Peter Jericevich

Peter Kena Jericevich is a rugby union player from Scotland who has played for Doncaster Knights in the English RFU Championship. Peter is a former Scotland Age Group International and Scotland Under 19 Player of the Season . He has also played for the Scotland 7 a side team, representing his...

- Scotland 7s

Scotland national rugby union team (sevens)

Rory Hughes - Scotland 7s

Scotland national rugby union team (sevens)

Retired: Alan Bulloch

Alan Bulloch

Alan Bulloch born July 7, 1977, in Glasgow was a Scottish international rugby union centre.He was capped five times for between 2000-1, making his Test debut against the United States of America at Murrayfield on Nov 4th 2000...

- Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Scotland

Scotland national rugby union team

The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...

Gavin Walsh - Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....

, Ireland A Joe Naufahu - Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Southland

Southland Rugby

, Canterbury

Canterbury Rugby Football Union

The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...

Gareth McClure - Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons

The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...

Andy Rennick - Border Reivers

Border Reivers (Rugby)

, Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints

Carlo di Ciacca - Glasgow Caledonians (who later became Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

), Edinburgh Rugby Andrew Plastow - Queensland Reds

Queensland Reds

The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...

, Australia 7s Ross West - Queensland Reds

Queensland Reds

Sam Pinder* - Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

, Northland

Northland Rugby Union

The Northland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand.-History:Rugby was first played in Northland in the 1870s, and the first union was set up in the province in 1895, known as the Marsden Football Union. The Northland union was founded in...

, Scotland

Scotland national rugby union team

Pre the 2002 amalgamation

Active: Euan Murray

Euan Murray

- Newcastle Falcons

Newcastle Falcons

, Scotland

Scotland national rugby union team

, British and Irish Lions

British and Irish Lions

The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...

Retired: Richard Allan - Scotland

Scotland national rugby union team

Ray Nelson - USA

United States national rugby union team

USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...

Gordon Bulloch

- Scotland

Scotland national rugby union team

, British and Irish Lions

British and Irish Lions

The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...

Gordon McIlwham - Scotland

Scotland national rugby union team

Anthony Posa - Croatia

Croatia national rugby union team

The Croatia national rugby union team are the national rugby union team of Croatia. They are governed by the Croatian Rugby Union. Croatia have been playing internationals rugby since 1992, they have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.- Internationals :...

_{*Played one game for GHA's 2nd XV before being signed by the Glasgow Warriors}

Club Captains

Trevor Carmichael	2002/03
Euan Baillie	2003/04
Zander McIlwham	2004/06
Rory Watson	2006/08
Niall Cassie	2008/present

Head Coaches

Gavin Walsh	2002/03
David Wilson	2003/05
Roddy Moir	2005/08
Bill MacDonald	2008/2011
Gordon MacPherson	2011/present

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.