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Hillhead RFC
Full name Hillhead Rugby Football Club
Union Scottish Rugby Union
Founded 1904
Disbanded 1988; 37 years ago (1988)
Location Glasgow, Scotland
Ground(s) Scotstoun Showgrounds
Hughenden

Hillhead Rugby Football Club was a rugby team from Glasgow, Scotland. It started in 1904 for students who used to go to Hillhead High School. The club played rugby for many years. In 1988, it joined with another club, Jordanhill RFC. Together, they formed a new team called Hillhead Jordanhill RFC.

How the Club Started

Hillhead Sports Club began in 1902. It was a private club for students who had left Hillhead High School. The club offered many different sports. These included football, cricket, hockey, and athletics.

The Rugby Team's Beginning

The rugby team, called Hillhead High School Former Pupils RFC, started in 1904. For a while, the team played its home games at the Scotstoun Showgrounds. They played there until 1922.

Finding a Permanent Home: Hughenden

After the First World War, the Hillhead club wanted its own permanent home. In 1922, they bought land at Hughenden. The club's new home officially opened on May 24, 1924. It even had a special building called a pavilion.

Building a Grandstand

The rugby team became very popular. So, in 1934, a large grandstand was built next to the rugby pitch. This stand was made of strong concrete. It had a special roof that stuck out without needing many supports. This was quite new for the time! The grandstand was first used in September 1934. It was for a game between Hillhead and Glasgow Academicals.

Opening the Club to Everyone

For many years, only former students of Hillhead High School could join the club. But in 1969, this rule changed. The club wanted to find more players. So, it officially became Hillhead RFC, open to anyone.

Joining Forces: The Merger

In 1988, Hillhead RFC joined with another rugby club. This club was Jordanhill RFC, which was linked to Jordanhill College. The two clubs merged to create a new team. This new team is known as Hillhead Jordanhill RFC.

Club Achievements

Hillhead RFC had some great successes during its time.

  • In the 1933-34 season, they shared the unofficial national title of Scotland. They shared it with Royal HSFP.
  • They also shared the unofficial national title in the 1936-37 season. This time, they shared it with Watsonians.

Tournament Wins

The club won several rugby sevens tournaments:

  • Glasgow City Sevens
    • Champions (2): 1984, 1987
  • Hawick Sevens
    • Champions (1): 1934
  • Jed-Forest Sevens
    • Champions (1): 1937

Famous Players and Coaches

Many talented players and coaches were part of Hillhead RFC.

Coaches

  • Scotland Bill Dickinson was a coach for Scotland's national rugby team from 1971 to 1977. He coached at Hillhead RFC too.

Scotland International Players

Some players from Hillhead RFC went on to play for the Scottish national team. These players are called "internationalists."

  • Scotland William Alexander Ross
  • Scotland Allan Cameron
  • Scotland W.C.W. Murdoch
  • Scotland Iain Ross
  • Scotland I.A.A. MacGregor

Glasgow District Players

Many players from Hillhead RFC also played for the Glasgow District team.

  • Scotland R.C. Graham
  • Scotland I.E. Dawson
  • Scotland I. Wilkie
  • Scotland A.S. Nicolson
  • Scotland J.D. Niven
  • Scotland Allan Cameron
  • Scotland K.C. Gordon
  • Scotland I.A.A. MacGregor
  • Scotland T.E.S. Ferguson
  • Scotland J.A. Ferguson
  • Scotland G.M. Guthrie
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