The Herald reports

Glasgow Hawks are taking rugby beyond its traditional heartlands
Published on 15 December 2011

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I received an interesting text message from a Glasgow Warriors supporter following last weekend's interview with Duncan Weir which previewed their Heineken Cup win over Montpellier.

"Really nice piece with Dunky," it read. "He is the future, moving us away from cheeky Borderers and snooty, private school types. He's a man of the people, as are Wilson [albeit cockney], Grant, Harley, Fusaro and some of the others."

Chippy? Most certainly. Unfair? In many ways, yes.

However, the sentiments reflect a view that is rather more widely held than some would like to believe: that Scottish rugby has traditionally been overly beholden to two tiny communities – the Borders and the private schools – each of which represent around 2% of the population.

That extends to the belief that these two sectors have held far too much influence over the decision-making processes at Murrayfield, resulting in too much of the sport's resources being ploughed into them, with the effect that, in Scottish rugby terms, the rich have become richer.

There is an element of truth in the accusation, but the situation is far more complicated than that. Scottish rugby has been as dependent upon both as it has been indulgent towards them. Without Borderers and private schoolboys – the Calders, the Hastings, the Milnes, Laidlaw and Rutherford, Armstrong and Chalmers, Leslie and Jeffrey, Sole and Deans, Dods and Turnbull, Stanger and Robertson, Tomes and Gray, Campbell and White – there would have been no grand slams in 1984 and 1990.

That the balance has shifted since is healthy because, in such a small country, no sport can thrive when relying on 4% of its population.

My position on this has often been misinterpreted as doing down the Borders and the private schools, when it has always been that what Scottish rugby needs is to get every part of the population to follow their example and contribute as effectively as they do, with everyone working together.

There could, then, be no better announcement to reinforce that point than that from the Bill McLaren Foundation to the effect that they have put funding into Glasgow Hawks' project which aims to create an all-inclusive community club which embraces the whole of west Glasgow.

They are developing rugby in 15 primary and three secondary schools in the Drumchapel, Knightswood and Scotstoun area, a plan that Glasgow Warriors could surely get involved in, too.

These coaching activities will take place in the local community and, working with Glasgow Life and the local police, will be supported by a series of workshops addressing issues of drugs/alcohol misuse, gang culture and pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

The aim of the project is to engage young people in positive, structured, team activity while educating them of the dangers of gang culture and the positive effects of leading a healthy, safe lifestyle.

"I'm delighted that the Bill McLaren Foundation has recognised the work being done by the Glasgow Hawks Trust in the west end of Glasgow," said Alasdair Graham, the Hawks chairman.

"This is predominantly a football area, but considerable interest is being shown by the youngsters in playing rugby. A number of festivals have been held and these have been well attended. It is hoped that the three secondary schools will participate in the emerging schools cup later in the season."

This is exactly what the promotion and development of rugby is about, drawing upon the know-how and resources of its traditional strongholds to move forward into new territory.

Consider the component parts of the partnership. The Hawks, a club that is seeking to represent a community but which was formed as a result of amalgamations of the Glasgow High, Glasgow Academicals and Kelvinside Academy FP sides, is working with a foundation set up in the name of the most famous figure in Scottish and, in particular, Borders rugby history who was, incidentally, always very proud of his association with this newspaper.

"We're very happy to support a successful club like Glasgow Hawks and their bid to take rugby into communities that wouldn't usually have the opportunity to play the game. We wish them every success with their project and look forward to hearing how it goes," said Linda Lawson, Bill McLaren's daughter and a director of his foundation.

Key aims of the foundation which was set up following Bill's death last year are to develop and promote rugby union and its values while encouraging sporting opportunities for young people.

Ideal, then, that his legacy is reaching into new generations and sections of Scottish society.

This article was posted on 15-Dec-2011, 07:30 by Hugh Barrow.