Hillhead Jordanhill RFC facts for kids
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| Full name | Hillhead Jordanhill Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Scottish Rugby Union |
| Founded | 1904 (Hillhead HSFP RFC) 1921 (Jordanhill RFC) 1988 (Merger) 1995 (Women) |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Ground(s) | Hughenden |
| Coach(es) | Men's: Stuart Irivine Douglas Grove Loïs Legendre Women's: Aird Jardine Tonci Buzov |
| League(s) | Men: Scottish National League Division Three Women: Scottish Womens Premiership |
| 2019–20 | Men: Scottish National League Division Three, 6th of 12 Women: Scottish Womens Premiership, 2nd of 6 |
| Official website | |
The Hillhead Jordanhill Rugby Football Club (HJRFC) is a well-known rugby union club in Glasgow, Scotland. It's often called "Hills" for short. This club has a long history, going back to 1904.
The club you see today was formed in 1988. A women's team joined in 1995. They play their home games at Hughenden, a sports ground in the West End of Glasgow. Even though the name includes Hillhead and Jordanhill, the club is actually in Hyndland, near Great Western Road.
Contents
Playing Rugby at Hills
Hillhead Jordanhill RFC has teams for both men and women. They compete in different leagues across Scotland.
Men's Rugby Teams
- The Men's 1st XV (first team) plays in the Scottish National League Division Three.
- The club also has a 2nd XV and a 3rd XV. These teams play in reserve leagues.
Women's Rugby Teams
- The Women's 1st XV is a strong team. They have won many important competitions.
Meet the Captains
Captains are important leaders for a rugby team. They help guide the players on the field.
- The Men's 1st XV Captain is
Conor Ferguson. - The Women's 1st XV Captain is
Louise McMillan.
Club History: How Hills Began
The Hillhead Jordanhill club was created when two older rugby clubs joined together in 1988. These clubs were Jordanhill Rugby Football Club and Hillhead Rugby Football Club.
Jordanhill RFC's Story
Jordanhill Rugby Football Club started in 1921. It was set up for students and former students of Jordanhill College in Glasgow.
Hillhead RFC's Story
Hillhead Rugby Football Club began even earlier, in 1904. It was part of the Hillhead Sports Club, which started in 1902. This club was for former students of Hillhead High School. They played many sports, including rugby.
At first, the Hillhead rugby team used the Scotstoun Showgrounds. But after the First World War, they wanted their own home. So, in 1922, they bought land at Hughenden. Their new clubhouse opened in 1924.
Hughenden quickly became a popular sports venue. A large grandstand was built in 1934. It was made of reinforced concrete, which was quite modern for the time. This stand was first used for a big rugby match in September 1934.
In 1969, the club changed its rules. Before, only former students of Hillhead High School could join. This rule was removed to help the club find more players. That's when it officially became Hillhead RFC. The floodlights at the ground were also improved in 1977.
Recent Achievements
In the 2009–10 season, the men's team won the Scottish Premiership Division Three championship. This was a big achievement! The next year, they played well in the higher division.
Hughenden: The Home Ground
Hughenden is a famous multi-sports venue in Hyndland, Glasgow. It has been the home of Hillhead Sports Club since 1924. Many sports are played there, including cricket, rugby union, and tennis.
It's most famous as the home ground for Hillhead Jordanhill RFC. The professional Glasgow Warriors rugby team also used Hughenden as their home from 1996 to 2007. Before the grandstand was taken down, the main rugby ground could hold 6,000 people.
Hillhead Jordanhill Sevens Tournament
The club also hosts its own rugby tournament called the Hillhead Jordanhill Sevens. Rugby sevens is a faster version of rugby with fewer players.
Club Honours: Winning Trophies
Hillhead Jordanhill RFC has won many awards and championships over the years.
Women's Team Honours
- Sarah Beaney Cup: 2009-10, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18
- BT Women's Premier League: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2017–18
- Mull Sevens: 2023
Men's Team Honours
- Scottish National League Division Three: 2009–10
- Glasgow City Sevens: 1999
- Bearsden Sevens: 1989, 1991
- Ross Sutherland Sevens: 1993
- Allan Glen's Sevens: 1989, 1990
- Kilmarnock Sevens: 2006
Famous Players and Coaches
Many talented players and coaches have been part of Hillhead Jordanhill RFC. Some have even played for their country!
Former Coaches
- Bill Dickinson: Coached the Scotland Rugby Union team from 1971 to 1977.
- Richie Dixon: Also coached the Scotland team (1995–98) and Glasgow Warriors (1999-2002).
- Hugh Campbell: Coached Glasgow Warriors from 2003 to 2006.
Men's International Players
These players represented their country in rugby:
- William Alexander Ross
- Allan Cameron
- Iain Ross
- Dougie Hall
- Gordon Simpson
- Ian McLauchlan
- Gordon Strachan
- Tonci Buzov
- Nico Nyemba
- Jason Adamson
Men's U20s International Players
These players represented their country at the Under 20s level:
- Blair MacKenzie
- Cameron McCulloch
Players for Glasgow Warriors
Some players from Hills have also played for the professional team, Glasgow Warriors:
- Dougie Hall
- Alasdhair McFarlane
- Gordon Simpson
Players for Edinburgh Rugby
- Dougie Hall also played for Edinburgh Rugby.
Women's International Players
These amazing women have played for their country:
- Susie Brown
- Heather Lockhart
- Jemma Forsyth
- Louise McMillan
- Abi Evans
- Jade Konkel
- Megan Gaffney
- Lindsey Smith
- Lana Skeldon
- Siobhan McMillan
- Hannah Smith
- Sarah Smith
- Mairi McDonald
Women's 7s International Players
These players have represented their country in Rugby Sevens:
- Louise McMillan
- Hannah Smith
- Abi Evans
- Megan Gaffney
- Jade Konkel
- Mairi McDonald
Women's U20s International Players
These players have represented their country at the Under 20s level:
- Siobhan McMillan
- Abi Evans
- Louise McMillan
- Mairi McDonald
- Kirsty Reid
