In July 2006 this column was posted in our news section and it looks like six years on the show is returning to the Showgrounds

With the news that Glasgow City Council will continue with the development of Scotstoun it will allow time for the rugby-athletics synergy to evolve.
Historically the two sports have benefited from each other going back to the days of Eric Liddell and before.and more recently that Hillhead flyer Ming Campbell who started his athetics career at Scotstoun
The rugby and athletic clubs of Glasgow have complimented each other over the years to their mutual benefit
Two of the main athletics clubs that currently use Scotstoun -Glasgow Athletic Club and Victoria Park AAC have provided rugby not only with fitter players but also coaches who have assisted with fitness and conditioning work.such as Tom Lucas(although he was Shettleston Harriers) and Bob Tomlinson who have both worked at the Hawks over the years
Many of the modern fitness methods adopted by pro and club rugby today were tried and tested by the great athletics coaches such as Stamphl,Cerutty and Lydiard.many years ago.
There is great potential for not only Glasgow Rugby to be talking to the Glasgow Athletic Association but also for the amateur rugby clubs to be doing the same

Today's Herald reports

SCOTTISH Rugby’s president has welcomed the news that Scotstoun is in line to become the home of Glasgow Warriors and the venue for the Scottish leg of the international sevens and he hopes that rugby sevens at the 2014 Commonwealth Games will also be switched to the council-owned stadium.

Ian McLauchlan said International Rugby Board officials had been hugely impressed by the welcome received, as well as the facilities. “I think it’s the best news we’ve had in Glasgow for a long time; they [the council’s officials] are so keen,” he said.

He feels that moving to the stadium could be a key element in transforming Scottish professional rugby. “I honestly believe with Glasgow that with a stadium that can take five or six thousand, they’ll soon fill it. If they win games especially, it will start filling up,” he said.

If holding the World Sevens Series there also works, his opinion is that it will prove the natural venue to stage the Commonwealth Games Sevens.

“If they can get Glasgow up and running there in May and it’s a success then you take the Commonwealth Games to Scotstoun instead of Ibrox,” McLauchlan said. “We think it’s two different audiences for the international sevens and the Commonwealth Games, but they’re six weeks apart and I think you can get the same atmosphere for both.

“Ibrox may be too big for it anyway, plus, if Rangers have to qualify for Europe, they are not going to want you playing rugby on their pitch.”

This article was posted on 20-Sep-2011, 07:18 by Hugh Barrow.