Welcome to the first edition of the newsletter for the year 2023-24.
It is only early August but the players have been attending pre-season training since the middle of June including a week of fitness testing under the control of our own Viki Penpraze from whom there is no hiding place in her desire to have the fittest side in the Premiership.
The Club ended last season on a bit of a high with a good run in the Scottish Cup, ending in the semi final with a loss to Hawick, late in the match, after a spirited performance.
The re-introduction of the District Championship, at the end of the season was an unqualified success. Hawks were well represented in the competition with, Liam Brimms and Oscar Baird in the Caledonia side, that were the eventual winners. The Glasgow and West team came third with a comprehensive victory against Edinburgh on the finals at Braidholm. Hooker, Paul Cairncross co-captained the side and Ryan Flett, Sam Graham, James Pinkerton, Gavin Cruikshanks, Michael Downer and Max Crumlish all contributed to a strong showing in that game.
The news that we have lost 22 players to retirement, career changes, Super Series, other local clubs, and the new Scottish Futures team was a blow hard to take and a worrying consequence, especially after all the hard development work undertaken last season.
Former coach at Marr Rugby Club, Craig Redpath, speaking at a Glasgow Rugby Old Geezers (GROGS) lunch said, that the Scottish coach that he most admired was Andy Hill of Hawks because he had to start with 20 new players each year.
Andy, the miracle man, has done it again as at the time of writing 20 new or returning players have turned up at training.
With Boroughmuir and Southern Knight having difficulties in raising teams and needing to, already, borrow players from other Super 7 teams and teams in the Premiership it can only be hoped that Hawks will not be raided again before the Premiership season gets underway. To a howl of criticism, the new Super Series season commenced on the final Saturday of July. with the new Futures team starting their season while the Scottish Under 20 was still in Kenya.
On the same weekend Stirling Wolves were not involved and to cover the shortage 8 players from the Wolves were included in the Futures team.
Who dreamt up this format? You must draw your own conclusions.

Mention of the Under 20’s in Kenya and their failure to win the tournament has led to a hail of comments on social media regarding the whole system of youth development within Scottish Rugby. You can only sympathise with the poor players for the disappointment they must be suffering when expectations were so high. They were not to blame - the system is broken. Hopefully the big win against Samoa will not be used to cover over the cracks in the system.
A major consultation on the future has taken place and the outcome is due to be published in the autumn.
It may take time for the Hawks team to settle, but, if there are few injuries, and no more players are taken away mid season, then Hawks will have a reasonable season. This is important as in the future Scottish Rugby may return to an equitable position where there is a fair geographical representation and a fair distribution of money from the SRU.

Introduction to the New Season by Head Coach Andy Hill

The second block of preseason is well underway and we’ve consistently had around 30 players training at each session with more to arrive and return from injury.

The 3 preseason matches will challenge players starting with last years losing finalists Currie. The weeks after we will have 2 mixed squads which will allow players to get valuable game time under

their belts to prepare for our 1st league game where we take on last year’s unbeaten league and cup winners Hawick. It’s a challenge we are really looking forward to.

There have been a lot of changes in the coaching team with Gary Strain and Brendan McGroarty not only retiring from playing but stepping away from coaching to focus on work.

To replace them we have brought in Murphy Walker to coach the scrum and help out with the forwards. His involvement at the start of the season will be dependent on his selection to the RWC. Richard Adams who joined later in the season will help oversee this transition and brings valuable experience being involved in rugby development for a number of years in Canada and the Cayman Islands.

To help Tam Davidson with the backs and support Alex Afuakwah with the 2’s we have brought in Aaron Purewal while he awaits surgery and recovers from his injury. Aaron has been involved with Scotland and GB7’s while also playing the 15 aside game for GHA, Boroughmuir Bears and London Scottish. He was due to move to France to play however his injury brought a halt to this.

A new season is always exciting seeing new players accepting the challenge of stepping up to the highest level of amateur rugby? Every season it’s difficult to develop real cohesion and build on previous years due to the high number of players that come in and leave. However it’s pleasing to see lads come to us from the Super Series with Marcus Goodwin and James Couper adding their experience alongside Liam Brims who joined mid-way through last year.

There are a greater number of older players this year that have joined which we hope will create stability in the squad throughout the year. It’s great to have the likes of JP Thompson and Sione Halififi return as we know their physicality and hard edge will have a huge impact on the squad and hopefully create a real identity for this group.

Please come to the games and support the players as a vociferous crowd adds to the excitement and the performance.

Pre Season Fixtures
Saturday 12th August v Currie RFC Away
Saturday 19th August v Biggar RFC Away
Saturday 26th August v Dundee RFC Home

The final pre season friendly is being played at our training base at Nethercraigs. This is an opportunity to come and watch a match at our excellent training facility. There is an added bonus as you can watch two matches as the 2nd XV are playing Preston Lodge RFC.
on the same afternoon. Please check the Hawks website for kick off times.

Coming & Going

Last month Andy Hill listed the names of the players who were leaving the Club and also the names of the players who were joining us.
The comprehensive list, at the time of writing, is shown below.

We thank the leavers for the contribution that they made while playing for Hawks and wish them well for whatever the future holds for them. You will always be welcomed back at the Club.
For those joining us, welcome, you are coming to a Club that has a highly impressive record of developing players and encouraging them to reach their full potential. You will be looked after physically and mentally and given the opportunity to play at the highest level if we find you have the dedication and appropriate skills.

Leavers
Gary StrainPropRetirement
Brendan McGroartyCentreRetirement
Moby Ogunlaja*PropStirling Wolves
Ruaridh Hart *2nd RowStirling Wolves
Kerr Yule*CentreAyrshire Bulls
Andy McLean*Full BackBoroughmuir Bears
Eric DaveyScrum HalfStirling Wolves
Oscar BairdNo.8Ayrshire Bulls
Ryan Burke2nd RowFutures XV
Euan MuirheadFull BackBoroughmuir Bears
IstokToticHooker Move to London
Daniel SweeneyFlankerMove to Edinburgh
Jake PorterFlanker/No.8Move to Edinburgh
Seb HastingsNo.8Return to N. Ireland
Vilhelm CarlssonFlankerReturn to Sweden
Harris MitchellWingReturn to Aberdeen
Jamie ThompsonCentreReason to be confirmed
Seb SingFlankerInjured
Charlie KennedyWingInjured
Jack McArthurFlankerRetired
Sandy GreigScrum halfJoining GHK
* Scotland Under 20 Cap

Arrivals
Marcus GoodwinTight Head Prop ex Boroughmuir Bears
Ben MorrisWing Threeequarter ex Gordonians
Angus Rintoul Prop/Hooker ex St. Columba’s Sc.
Michael ContethWing Threequarter St. Aloysius School
J.P. ThomsonBack Row ex Catha QP
James ImrieScrum Half ex Stirling County
Ewan SimeNo.8 ex Highland
Harry Provan Wing Threequarter Glasgow High School
James CouperBack Three ex Heriot’s Super 6
ex Hawks
Murray Oliver2nd row/back row Strathallan Sch.
Ryan HowieHooker ex Catha QP
Josh Blane2nd Row ex Cartha QP
Sione HalififiBack row ex Hawks
Pat SpenceBack row ex West of Scot
Mark BarrowmanHooker ex Catha QP
Rory GordonScrum Half ex Dumfries &GHA Wayne Burrows10 or 12 ex Cartha QP
Jacob Adamson Scrum Half ex Hawks, Falkirk Ed Accies & Cartha
Myles MacaulayBack Row ex Kelvinside Ac
David McDonald Prop ex St. Aloysius

Jamie Blair Reporting from the Under20 Trophy Tournament in Kenya

Not only were Hawks represented in the Scottish squad in Kenya at the Under 20 tournament but they also had a representative in the Hong Kong squad. Jamie hails from Tarbet in Argyle but spent the first 14 years of his life in Hong Kong before moving back to Scotland. His report highlights the experience gained from 2 months of intensive training.

“Representing Hong Kong at the Under 20 trophy was an unreal experience, and it was a privilege to be able to challenge myself at an international level against the likes of the Netherlands, Spain (the eventual winners) and the USA.
The results didn’t go our way, however going into the competition as underdogs, I felt as a young squad with a light pack we held our
own against strong opposition – many of whom playing their rugby at pro/semi pro level.
It was a dream come true to be able to play rugby in 3 countries for 2 months full time and I look forward to building on what I’ve learned at Hawks and pursuing any future opportunities that may come up.
I’d like to give a special mention to ‘West Loch Shores’ for supporting me throughout the tour”
(An interesting connection)
Jamie’s team manager, Andy Brown’s father Frank, used to train at Netercraigs as he was a very fine athlete with Victoria Park AAC before emigrating to Hong Kong. Frank had been in the Strathclyde Police, who trained at Lochinch, joined the Hong Kong Police and rose to a senior position.

Former Hawk picks up the Whistle

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of Mike Adamson former Hawks scrum half Richard McKnight has qualified as a referee.

Scotland 25 France 21

The Scotland team that came back from a 21-3 deficit to beat France in the second half contained no fewer than 5 players who played for Hawks in the early stage of their careers.
Ritchie Gray, Zander Fagerson, Matt Fagerson, George Horne and Scott Cumming pulled on the Hawks strip in the early stage of their careers. No other Scottish Club comes near that number of players. It is a testimony to the quality of coaching that the club has had over a number of years including, Peter Wright, Jamie Dempsey, Jimmy Sinclair and now being carried on by Andy Hill.

Season Tickets

With the new season fast approaching please apply for your season ticket, if you have not already purchased one. These are available through the Hawks website or by emailing algrah@aol.com.
Membership fees are a major source of keeping the Club viable and supporting the continuation of Club Rugby in the Glasgow area.

Alasdair Graham
Membership Secretary
Glasgow Hawks RFC