Name Derek Stark Role Rugby union | Education Kilmarnock Academy | |
Derek Stark (born 13 April 1966 in Kilmarnock) is a Scottish former international rugby union player who played for Glasgow Warriors at the Wing positions
Stark grew up in Kilmarnock playing rugby with Kilmarnock RFC and working in his parents hotel there, The Foxbar Hotel. He represented Glasgow District at U21 as well as 7s.
As a teenager he moved south to England to study a catering course in Woking at the Tante Marie Culinary Academy. While he was there he played amateur rugby for Guildford & Godalming RFC and Chobham RFC.
From rugby union, Stark tried his hand at being a sprinter, He could run 100 metres in 10.6 seconds. On seeing the top Caribbean athletes run slightly quicker, Stark moved back into rugby playing for Boroughmuir RFC.
Stark played for Ayr RFC and was again picked for Glasgow District.
He was part of Glasgow District's famous 1989-90 side which went unbeaten all season, winning that year's Scottish Inter-District Championship outright.
On the amateur provincial Glasgow District's move into professionalism in 1996 as Glasgow Rugby - now Glasgow Warriors - Stark signed a professional contract with the Glasgow side. The move came at a time when Stark was considering a move to play for West Hartlepool RFC.
He notably scored a try on his international Scotland debut in 1993. Stark played for Melrose RFC He played half a game for Melrose; one of the ten club sides that he played for.
He went on to play for amateur side Glasgow Hawks.
Stark again played for Boroughmuir RFC. and won the BT Cellnet Cup with them in 2001.
Stark played for Scotland U21, Scotland Club XV, Scotland B, Scotland A and Scotland as well as Scotland 7s.
For a short period, Stark - along with international teammates Rowen Shepherd and Gregor Townsend - owned a bar in Edinburgh's Grassmarket area. The bar was aptly named The Three Quarters. Alongside track star Brian Whittle he was a co-director at PB events.