Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors

Full name	Glasgow Warriors
Founded	1872 (1872)
Location	Glasgow, Scotland
Ground(s)	Scotstoun Stadium (Capacity: 9,708)
Chairman	Charles Shaw
Coach(es)	Gregor Townsend
Captain(s)	Alastair Kellock
Most caps	Graeme Morrison (175)
Top scorer	Dan Parks (1105)
Most tries	DTH van der Merwe (31)
League(s)	Pro 12
2012–13	3rd
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.glasgowwarriors.org

Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, is one of the two professional rugby teams from Scotland. The team plays in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup along with its oldest rivals, Edinburgh Rugby. The Glasgow Warriors team plays its home games at Scotstoun Stadium^[1][2]

History

Glasgow Rugby was created to compete in the Heineken Cup, because the SRU did not think that Scottish club sides would be able to compete against the best teams from France and England.^[3] Glasgow, however, did not compete in the Heineken Cup until the 1997–98 season.

Because of the SRU's high debt, partly as a result of the redevelopment of Murrayfield there was a recognised need for further reorganisation. After two seasons, Glasgow merged with the Caledonia Reds to form a team that would be known as Glasgow Caledonians.^[4]

Concerns about attendances at games became a concern again at the time of the 1999 World Cup, by which time a Welsh/Scottish League had been announced. In essence, this would be the Welsh First Division augmented by the two Scottish sides.^[5]

The Celtic League began in the autumn of 2001; Glasgow reached the semi-finals of the inaugural competition, but struggled thereafter. From the 2002–03 season the 'Caledonian' label was dropped at the start of the 2002–03 season, with the team name becoming Glasgow Rugby.^[6] Starting with the 2005–06 season, the team was again rebranded, this time as the Glasgow Warriors.^[3]

The forced merger came just after Glasgow had shown some signs of progress by qualifying for the Heineken Cup quarter-final play-offs, in which they suffered their heaviest defeat (90–19) to Leicester Tigers.^[7] The intention was that the combined strength of the new teams would build on such modest progress and initially some very successful results were achieved, including a 1999 win against Leicester (30–17), but overall the team lacked consistency.

In 2004/5 Glasgow had been fifth, the best placing of the three Scottish teams that existed at that time.^[8]

In the summer of 2012 Glasgow Warriors moved from Firhill to Scotstoun, which had previously been the club's training base.^[9]

Season 2006/07

After impressive preseason displays, Glasgow Warriors played its first game in the new Celtic League against Newport Gwent Dragons, losing 23–24 after a last minute penalty.^[10]

Glasgow then did not lose another home game until Ulster came to Hughenden in January 2007.^[11] Glasgow drew away to English side Saracens in the European Challenge Cup, en route to a quarter-final berth, but was drawn against Saracens and lost 23–19 at Vicarage Road.

The Warriors defeated both Scottish rivals just a week apart Edinburgh ^[12] and Border Reivers,^[13] and at the start of April, title hopefuls Leinster arrived at Hughenden. Glasgow won the game 26–20,^[14] before following it up with a good away win against Irish side Connacht.^[15] The next game saw Glasgow travel to Ravenhill to face Ulster, one of only 2 sides to beat them at Hughenden, and the team stunned the home crowd by winning the game.^[16]

Then it was the turn of Welsh side, the Neath-Swansea Ospreys (a side that would win the title at Netherdale the following week) to travel to Hughenden. The Ospreys crossed the Glasgow try-line within 45 seconds, and crossed twice more to take a (26–9) lead just minutes from half-time, before Glasgow's Dan Parks converted his own try to take it to 26–16 at half time. In the second half, Parks kicked another penalty before setting up Graeme Morrison for a try, which he converted to level the scores. Parks kicked a penalty from just shy of the half way line to take a 3 point lead and the Ospreys couldn't find a way out of their own half for the remaining 20 minutes.^[17]

The Warriors failed to make it 5 in a row the following week, but coach Sean Lineen was happy with his team's performance over the season nonetheless.

Season 2007/08

Glasgow came into this season off the back of a record equaling 5th place the previous season, and having bolstered their squad over the summer with big names such as Pumas' fullback Bernardo Stortoni and Samoan winger Lome Fa'atau, but struggled in the early rounds due to missing key players to the RWC in France. They started with two trips to Wales, losing at both Cardiff and Swansea, before returning to their new home at Firhill to face all 4 Irish provinces in consecutive games – and run during which Munster were the only side to take anything from (an 11–11 draw). Although the Warriors continued this impressive home form, with wins over Cardiff in the League and both Viadana and Biarritz in the Heineken Cup, they could muster nothing away from home. (although they did come within a charged down drop goal of beating Biarritz in France).

The Warriors then traveled east, to take part in what would become one of the best Scottish derbies of recent times. A traveling support of around 2,000 from the West coast meant a great atmosphere and a new record crowd for a game in Scotland of 6,225 watched Glasgow fight back from a large deficit to take the lead in the dying moments through a Dan Parks try, only to have their hopes crushed as Ben Cairns raced home between the posts to seal it for Edinburgh.

And then things got worse as Newport – long known as a bogey team for Glasgow – breached the defences at Firhill and recorded the first away win in Glasgow since Ulster had won 363 days previously!

But Glasgow had to bounce back immediately – with home wins against Viadana and Biarritz putting them firmly in the mix for a Heineken Cup Quarter Final berth, they had a potential all-or-nothing game against Saracens at Firhill: But only if they could beat Viadana in Italy. The Warriors had not won an away game in the competition since their debut against Ulster a decade ago, but on a miserable day in Northern Italy they did it! However even with a record crowd of over 5,000 at Firhill the following week, they couldn't beat Saracens to go through to the knockout stages.

All their games during the 6 Nations break went with home advantage, as did their trip to Dublin, before The Warriors turned up the heat and went unbeaten through their last 5 games: At home to Edinburgh (winning the 1872 Cup in the process) and the Scarlets, and on the road to Newport, Ulster and Munster (the latter would win the HC the following week) and meaning they would once again finish in 5th place.

Season 2008/09

The build up to this season was much more modest, with Coach Sean Lineen opting to sign local youngsters where possible instead of expensive foreign imports who hadn't done a job the season before. The league campaign started with a trip to bogey side Newport and for the second time in a row, Glasgow triumphed in atrocious conditions. They would not fare so well a month later however when their European Cup campaign also opened at the Welsh club. Meanwhile a home defeat to the Ospreys second string and away to Connacht, before trouncing the Scarlets with 5 tries at Firhill set the tone for the season – mixed.

Dan Parks kicking a penalty against Bath in December 2008

Very mixed. Indeed the week after the aforementioned trip to Newport in the Cup, Toulouse arrived at Firhill and were to be outplayed for the opening 40 minutes – but a second's lapse in concentration saw Toulouse take the lead with a try just before half time. After the break another 2 soft tries before being giften one of their own meant their European Campaign was over before it had begun.

The mixed form then continued with a 28 to nil victory over Cardiff, but defeat in the re-opening of Thomond Park. Then came the first of 2 games the season will be remembered for. Glasgow traveled to Bath's famous Recreation Ground knowing they were as good as out of the competition, while Bath were still in the hunt for qualification. 20 year-old Ruaridh Jackson was given his first start, and Glasgow raced ahead in the opening moments. A Thom Evans hat-trick, along with a Hefin O'Hare try and a fantastic interception try from young Jackson was not enough to pip Bath – the home side scoring 4 tries of their own to win 35–31 in what pundits said was "the best game of the competition so far".

Then came back to back derbies, with the first leg at Murrayfield attracting another record crowd of 12,500. Unfortunately Glasgow didn't turn up and Edinburgh strolled in 4 tries to put one hand on the 1872 Cup. In the return leg, a Glasgow record of 6,665 packed into Firhill to watch Glasgow hold to clinch a 25–20 win, thanks to a Graeme Morrison try, and 20 points from the boot of Dan Parks. In what was now becoming typical fashion though, Glasgow followed it up with a home defeat to Newport.

Glasgow Warriors in a scrum against Newport in January 2009

But Glasgow bounced back from that defeat in style. They traveled to France to face Toulouse knowing they were out the competition, but Toulouse were very much alive in the competition they have won more times than any other team. They would be facing them in a country Glasgow had never won a HC game in, in a stadium that no away team had won at since the Scarlets, 25 months previously and against a team that had only lost twice all season. Glasgow opened the scoring with a Parks penalty near halfway, that was cancelled out moments later. But then the game came to life – Max Evans chipped a ball down the left side, and while brother Thom was hasselling the Toulouse defender, Morrison grounded the ball over the line before Parks converted to the sound of jeers from the French crowd. Then Max Evans again chipped the ball down the left side, and this time was collected by Thom, and some great hands saw it go from him to John Barclay who sent Kelly Brown over for the score – and in doing so brought the Stade Ernest-Wallon to its feet. Parks then converted and added a drop goal to lead 26–6 at half time.

In the second half Max Evans then created his own try to extend Glasgow's lead to 33–9, before a brave fightback saw Toulouse score 2 tries (1 a penalty try) in the final 10 minutes to come back to 33–23, but with the clock ticking down they were then forced to accept the bonus point by kicking a penalty. FT: Toulouse 26–33 Glasgow Warriors.^[18]

Glasgow followed that up with a hard fought win over Newport at Firhill to finish third in the group, but then fell twice during the 6 Nations – away to both Cardiff and Ulster. Then Munster became the 5th team to triumph at Firhill, but Glasgow got back on track the following week putting 6 tries past the Scarlets away, before losing at home to Ulster: missing a last minute penalty in the process.

Season 2009/10

Glasgow taking a line-out against Biarritz in the Heineken Cup

Season 2009/10 has marked an upturn in fortunes with Glasgow leading the Celtic League at the halfway point. On 27 December 2009, a record crowd of almost 9,000 watched Glasgow defeat Edinburgh 25–12 at Firhill. They also won the repeat fixture at Murrayfield 22–15. But they failed to advance out their pool group in the Heineken Cup, registering only two victories over Gloucester and the Newport Gwent Dragons. The domestic season proved successful for Glasgow, they finished 3rd overall, recording notable victories over a young Leinster side, Munster at home and away at Cardiff Blues. However they lost out in the play-offs, losing 20–5 to the Ospreys.^[19]

Season 2011/12

This was the last season the Warriors would play at Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club. It was a largely successful season, with the club again qualifying for the Pro12 play-offs by finishing 4th.^[20] They played top team Leinster Rugby in the RDS in Dublin. They showed great fight scoring two late tries, but it was not enough to overturn Leinster's lead.^[21] The Warriors also had a good year in the Heineken Cup. Although they finished second in their group (again to Leinster) they failed to qualify for the HEC quarter finals,^[22] or the Amlin Cup Quarters as they were the second placed team with the lowest points from all the HEC groups.^[23]

Current standings

Pro 12 Table
	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Difference	Tries For	Tries Against	Try Bonus	Losing Bonus	Points
1	Munster	13	11	0	2	323	201	+122	31	13	4	0	48
2	Leinster	13	9	1	3	294	203	+91	28	18	4	3	45
3	Ulster	13	9	0	4	254	177	+77	23	15	3	2	41
4	Ospreys	13	8	1	4	300	226	+74	28	16	3	3	40
5	Glasgow Warriors	11	9	0	2	177	148	+29	16	7	0	1	37
6	Scarlets	13	5	1	7	240	259	−19	22	25	1	5	28
7	Newport Gwent Dragons	12	5	0	7	209	210	−1	15	15	0	4	24
8	Edinburgh	11	5	0	6	202	255	−53	18	27	1	1	22
9	Cardiff Blues	13	4	1	8	253	328	−75	15	30	0	4	22
10	Benetton Treviso	12	3	1	8	231	258	−27	18	29	0	5	19
11	Zebre	13	2	1	10	204	313	−109	19	28	0	4	14
12	Connacht	13	2	0	11	171	280	−109	14	24	0	5	13
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[24] number of matches won; the difference between points for and points against; the number of tries scored; the most points scored; the difference between tries for and tries against; the fewest number of red cards received; the fewest number of yellow cards received.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places. Qualification for the Heineken Cup is based on each country's allocation, i.e. three highest–ranked Irish teams, three highest–ranked Welsh teams, both Italian teams and both Scottish teams. Updated 9 February 2014. Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Current squad

2013/14 Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.

Player Position Union Fraser Brown Hooker Scotland Finlay Gillies Hooker Scotland Dougie Hall Hooker Scotland Pat MacArthur Hooker Scotland Fergus Scott Hooker Scotland Michael Cusack Prop England Ryan Grant Prop Scotland George Hunter Prop Scotland Ed Kalman Prop Scotland Moray Low Prop Scotland D'Arcy Rae Prop Scotland Gordon Reid Prop Scotland Jon Welsh Prop Scotland Jerry Yanuyanutawa Prop Fiji Jonny Gray Lock Scotland Alastair Kellock Lock Scotland Leone Nakarawa Lock Fiji Tom Ryder Lock Scotland Tim Swinson Lock Scotland Adam Ashe Flanker Scotland Will Bordill Flanker Scotland James Eddie Flanker Scotland Chris Fusaro Flanker Scotland Rob Harley Flanker Scotland Tyrone Holmes Flanker Scotland Andy Redmayne Flanker Scotland Ryan Wilson Flanker Scotland Josh Strauss Number 8 South Africa Richie Vernon Number 8 Scotland

Player Position Union Chris Cusiter Scrum-half Scotland Nikola Matawalu Scrum-half Fiji Ali Price Scrum-half Scotland Henry Pyrgos Scrum-half Scotland Ruaridh Jackson Fly-half Scotland Finn Russell Fly-half Scotland Duncan Weir Fly-half Scotland Scott Wight Fly-half Scotland Gabriel Ascárate Centre Argentina Mark Bennett Centre Scotland Alex Dunbar Centre Scotland Peter Horne Centre Scotland Joseph James Centre Scotland Bryon McGuigan Centre Scotland Jack Steele Centre Scotland [25] Rory Hughes Wing Scotland Sean Lamont Wing Scotland Sean Maitland Wing Scotland Tommy Seymour Wing Scotland D.T.H. van der Merwe Wing Canada Stuart Hogg Fullback Scotland Peter Murchie Fullback Scotland

Transfers 2013-2014

Players In

• Richie Vernon from Sale Sharks^[26]
• Tyrone Holmes from Petrarca Rugby^[27]
• Jerry Yanuyanutawa from London Irish^[28]
• Gabriel Ascárate from US Carcassonne^[29]
• Leone Nakarawa from Fiji Warriors

Players Out

• John Barclay to Scarlets
• Nick Campbell to Jersey^[30][31]
• Ofa Fainga'anuku to Worcester Warriors^[32]
• Taylor Paris to Agen
• Graeme Morrison retired
• Rory Lamont retired

Coaches

• Gregor Townsend – Head Coach
• Shade Munro – Forwards Coach
• Matt Taylor, replacing Gary Mercer – Defence Coach

Notable former players

See also

• Scottish Rugby Union
• Celtic League
• Heineken Cup
• European Challenge Cup

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glasgow Warriors.

• Official site
• glasgowwarriors,com – an unofficial fan website
• Heineken Cup page