With our City entering its penultimate lap towards the Commonwealth Games of 2014 Neil Drysdales story below makes interesting reading
Glasgow City Council and its subsidiary Glasgow Life have made a clear statement of intent with its investment in Scotstoun and Neil's piece should give them food for thought
With Warriors now on a firm footing at the refurbished Scotstoun what has happened to the city clubs
With no Glasgow club in the Premiership this makes uncomfortable reading for those charged with promoting this "Commonwealth core sport " in the Second City and they along with the city clubs have a challenge on their hands
Using the the impetus of Warriors arrival at Danes Drive the Glasgow clubs and the men from Trongate should grab the moment the "pro game" has now time for the club game to do likewise



The Herald reports

It seems strange that Craig and Kerr Gossman had to leave Glasgow Hawks to spread their wings, but the talented brothers recognised there was no value in them remaining at Anniesland once their former club had been relegated last season.

The duo have relocated to Ayr, both scored tries on their debuts in the RBS Premiership for the Millbrae club in a 38-22 win over Boroughmuir on Saturday, and have been galvanised by the prospect of pursuing such targets as qualification for the British & Irish Cup.I

In the past, some players at Glasgow's elite clubs gave the impression they felt they could pick and choose fixtures in which to shine. Recently, there has been a transformation in attitude and the Gossmans embody it in mindset as much as anyone. Craig, at 23 the older of the pair by three years, was in Moscow over the summer, among Scotland's emerging sevens representatives, while Kerr has previously appeared for his country in the abbreviated game. Oblivious to the possibility of turning out for their homeland at the next Commonwealth Games, the pair are focused on the here and now and the pursuit of extra pace, power in attack, tenacity in defence . . . anything which might provide them with an edge over their peers.

"Moving to Ayr was a big decision, but I spoke to Kenny Murray [the coach] and was immediately impressed by the level of their ambitions," says Craig. "I think it can help my rugby, and it has also given me an opportunity to freshen up my career, because I was getting too comfortable in a familiar environment [at Hawks]. Last season was, hopefully, just a wee blip for Ayr [they finished sixth], but we know it is a long season, so we will have to work hard, stay fit, keep improving and help one another; there is a lot of competition for places."

Kerr picked up the theme and ran with it, just as he has been doing on the pitch since he became attracted to rugby. Most people in his position would have been satisfied with Ayr's launch to their campaign, but Kerr admitted they had made a slow start, and appreciated they had to adapt quickly to the intensity of the club circuit.

"We are up against Dundee HSFP this weekend and they have made significant progress recently, so it will be tough, but that's the way it is in this league," he said. "They have good backs, such as Taylor Paris and Jack Steele, and have a lot of physical boys in their pack, so we will have to do our best to control the breakdown and step up on our efforts against Boroughmuir. But this is where I want to be, playing plenty of matches, building up my game time and my experience, and doing my best to improve."

Ayr may be in transition, but the development of such luminaries as Scott Sutherland, Nick Cox and Calum Forrester, allied to the arrival of some of the brightest stars from Hawks, has clearly had a positive influence and the Dundee contest promises to be a battle of wills between two sets of fiercely committed individuals.

This article was originally posted on 29-Aug-2012, 06:39 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 29-Aug-2012, 10:54.