30 years ago today, Glasgow Warriors took to the field for the first time as a professional outfit, running out at the Welfare Ground in Newbridge for their inaugural fixture. Read how the action unfolded in that first-ever European Challenge Cup clash with the report from the day itself...
Newbridge 38-62 Glasgow
We were midway in the second half, and Kenny Logan burst on to a back line move from full back, blasted through two tackles, and ran 60 metres to score. The experienced Welsh rugby fan in front of me turned round.
“You sure Kenny Logan is going back with you lot to Scotland then?” he asked. “Why?” we chorused in return. It was me, Ken Crichton, and George Blackie.
“Because,” replied the old man thoughtfully, “Cardiff have one of their scouts in the back row of the stand with his cheque book and he’ll give that boy Logan whatever he wants to stay down here.” Glasgow went on to score 10 tries.
Kenny Logan, pictured in Glasgow in 2004.
The single most pleasing aspect to this performance from Glasgow, aside from the style of play which was fluid and adventurous, was the sudden realisation that Welsh rugby fans, who have seen the best over the decades, thought that Glasgow had some of the finest young players they had watched in years.
The Bulloch boys, Alan in the centre, and Gordon, captain, at hooker, have to be nourished by our country and given the chance to grow as future internationalists.
Both players, Alan is 19 and Gordon 21, have to accept that no-one should be allowed to get the better of them in domestic rugby from now on. We now see what they are made of. Steel and aggression, hopefully. They join players like Duncan Hodge, who, if they screw the nut, shine a bright light on Scotland’s rugby.
Derek Stark forced many a mutter of jealous approval, too, with his four effortless tries; Logan proved how valuable it is for him to rise above Stirling County’s current plight with nothing short of a storming game; David McLeish was a powerhouse of work-rate and tackle at No.8 alongside valuable contributions from Fergus Wallace and John Shaw; and both Harri Bassi with his tackling, and Cammy Little with his intelligence after the forced retiral of Fraser Stott, deserve plus marks. Like Logan, Malcolm Norval stood proud surrounded by better players.
Fergus Wallace (right) pictured with Matt Fagerson as part of the club’s 2026/27 European kit launch
Those were the strengths, but the weaknesses in Glasgow’s game are obvious ones. Anonymity from the props in open play and unsteadiness in the scrums, a lack of ultimate physique, and a detectable frailty as Newbridge attacked close to the break-down with big forwards.
If Newbridge can expose such weaknesses, then they have to be sorted out before the incredibly tough opposition posed by Agen. But before that, Sale on Wednesday and Montferrand next Saturday. My goodness, this is big-time stuff.
Touch was missed too often under pressure, too. But the style, brought about by coaches Kevin Greene and Gordon MacPherson, was beautiful. Forwards quick to breakdown and eager to take the ball on, backs taking the ball upfield in poetic waves, teasing the opposition close to the gain line, and arriving in waves that could almost be French in their design. Glasgow is trying to play rugby of the future and the side is well drilled.
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The city was 29-19 up at the break, two tries from Stark, and one apiece from Alan Bulloch and Logan as against a Leighton Winder try, which was complemented by one from Haynd Jeffries and a penalty try. Stark bounded over for two more immediately after the break – it could have been four but he knocked on twice – and more came from Logan, Alan Bulloch, and Glenn Metcalfe.
Joe Powell, Glyn Harding, and Simon Jenkins had tries for Newbridge as Glasgow had moments when they lacked concentration and took their feet off the pedal.
But let’s not get carried away, despite the obvious pride in seeing your city’s team beat a Welsh first division side.
Newbridge has a population of only 8000, their three best players are injured, their five-man coaching team resigned two weeks ago, they have lost their past seven games, conceding more than 60 points in three of them – to Bridgend, Neath, and Cardiff – and they scored more points against Glasgow than in those matches put together.
In short, Newbridge might be the poorest opposition that Glasgow come across, and thankfully they played them in the first match.
And when we came near to the end of the match, and my mind strayed back to the Gazza documentary when the great Englishman told the world of McCoist’s desperation to get on to the pitch for a #12,000 bonus. Well, half of the Glasgow match fee for Europe is made up of a win bonus, and there was Craig Sangster standing gleefully at the touchline, waiting to run on as the seconds ticked away. He missed out as the whistle went before he could enter the fray.
Glasgow didn’t miss out. This was very encouraging for the city. This, with youth to the fore, is the way ahead.
Newbridge
Williams, Perryment, Taylor, Lucas, Meredith, Williams, Winder, Jeffries, Phillips, Budgeon, Jeffries, Gwillym, Squires, Powell, Cooper.
Glasgow
Logan, Stark (replaced by Breckenridge), A Bulloch, Bassi, Metcalfe, MacGregor, Stott (Little), Perrie, G Bulloch, Robertson, Begley, Norval, Wallace, McLeish, Shaw.
Scorers:
Newbridge
Tries: Winder, Jeffries, Powell, Harding, Jenkins, penalty try
Conversions: Williams (4).
Glasgow
Tries: Stark (4), Bulloch (2), Logan (2), Metcalfe, Little,
Conversions: MacGregor (6).
