HISTORY

The Beginning

Glasgow District was founded as one of the four Scottish district sides, alongside North and Midlands, South and Edinburgh. These district sides were not members of the Scottish Rugby Union, however, nor did they have a permanent ground.

Glasgow District was a select provincial amateur rugby union team, drawing players from Greater Glasgow and the west of Scotland. Playing matches against teams from across the world that toured Scotland, the club also competed in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.

Professionalism and Glasgow Warriors

In order to compete in the European Cup – the forerunner of the Heineken Champions Cup – Glasgow turned professional in 1996, becoming known as Glasgow Rugby.

Two seasons later, Glasgow Rugby merged with the Caledonia Reds to form Glasgow Caledonians. However, in 2001/02, the team became known once more as Glasgow Rugby, with Caledonians being dropped from the club’s name.

During the same season, the Celtic League was formed. This new cross-border competition included teams from Wales, Ireland and Scotland, and has since developed into the Guinness PRO14. The club finally rebranded as the Glasgow Warriors in the 2005/06 season, with the name remaining until the present day.

Stadium

Originally based at Hughenden in 1996/97, Glasgow Rugby’s merger with the Caledonia Reds led the club to play their matches at a number of venues across the region. Alongside their existing home of Hughenden, Glasgow’s Firhill, McDiarmid Park in Perth and Aberdeen’s Rubislaw Playing Fields were all host venues for Glasgow Caledonians fixtures, consolidating the traditional North and Midlands district.

The following year saw the rotation of venues continue, as Bridgehaugh – the home of Stirling County -, the Caledonian Stadium in Inverness and Ayr’s Millbrae each saw the side run out for a selection of fixtures.

The club returned home for the 2000/01 season, settling at Hughenden until midway through the 2005/06 season. After a brief spell at Firhill, the club returned to Hughenden once more for season 2006/07, before moving permanently to Firhill ahead of 2007/08.

In 2012, Glasgow Warriors moved to their current home at Scotstoun Stadium. Previously the club’s training base, the move has coincided with the most successful period in the club’s history, including a first-ever domestic league title and two Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals.

In addition to those grounds above, the following stadia have all hosted matches for Glasgow in the professional era: Rugby Park, Kilmarnock; Old Anniesland, Glasgow; Braidholm, Giffnock; Whitecraigs, Newton Mearns; London Road, Stranraer; Burnbrae, Milngavie, North Inch, Perth, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh; and Hampden Park, Glasgow.

Head Coaches