Disbanded 2002 Ground(s) Braidholm | Location Giffnock, Scotland Founded 1995 | |
Full name Glasgow Southern Rugby Football Club | ||
Glasgow Southern RFC was a former rugby union team. It was based in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire. Previously known as Clarkston RFC the Club altered its name to Glasgow Southern RFC in an AGM of May 1995. In 2002, the club merged with a Glasgow club Hutchesons Aloysians to form Glasgow Hutchesons Aloysians RFC.
Contents
History
Although Southern was in existence for a mere seven years, the timespan of the club bridged the amateur and professional period of rugby union. Rugby Union professionalism in Scotland began in 1996 and the Glasgow Southern club became well placed as a development club to the professional Glasgow Warriors side.
The first batch of Glasgow Thistles picked in 1997-98, a young development side sent to New Zealand by Glasgow District Union, contained Stuart Bryce, Iain Monaghan, Euan Murray and Jan Vos; all players from Southern.
Notably Murray became a Scotland internationalist and played for the British and Irish Lions; and Iain Monaghan became a development coach at Glasgow Warriors.
A brief return for amateur inter-district rugby saw Glasgow District play Scotland U21 in December 2001. Included in the Glasgow district side were Jan Vos and Ross Armour from Southern (as well as Stuart Bryce who had then joined Dalziel).
An agreement reached with a development organisation saw the original Clarkston RFC's 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.
Merger
The Glasgow Southern name was only to survive for seven years before it became evident to all concerned that rugby on the south side of Glasgow would be best served through amalgamation with another south-side side, Hutchesons Aloysians.
Glasgow Southern and Hutchesons Aloysians merged in May 2002 to form Glasgow Hutchesons Aloysians Rugby Football Club.
Notable former players
Over several years a variety of players graduated through the Club participation from both youth and senior level to achieve representative status.