Glasgow Hawks offer ambitious students flight path to success
Staff writer
Wednesday 25 September 2013
The University of Glasgow and Glasgow Hawks are to rekindle a rugby relationship that dates back to the 19th century.

The new partnership initiative will offer university players a chance to fulfil their potential and play in the national leagues with one of Hawk's senior teams and affiliate clubs.

Spearheaded by the university's rugby development officer, Peter Jericevich, and his Hawks counterpart, Mike Adamson, the partnership will provide coaching and development benefits for both parties and, as well as attracting new talent to the university's enhanced rugby programme, will provide a clear pathway for ambitious students to play at the top level of Scottish club rugby and beyond.

It is another chapter in the relationship between the two organisations, a link which was established in 1873 when Glasgow University and Hawks' founder club, Glasgow Academicals, helped found the Scottish Football Union - the fledgling Scottish Rugby Union. Since then, the University have played many matches with the clubs of Anniesland and Balgray, with numerous individuals having played across the various teams. The students played themselves at Old Anniesland before moving to their now former ground at Westerlands.

More recently, the University has held its annual sevens competition at New Anniesland and the partnership will ensure such successful joint ventures continue.

Matches between Hawks, or its affiliate clubs, and the University have become a rarity in recent years, but tonight, to cement the new relationship, a Glasgow Hawks Development XV will face Glasgow University 1st XV at Old Anniesland (7.15pm).

Euan Smith, assistant director of University of Glasgow Sport and Recreation, said: "With £9m being invested in the university's sporting infrastructure, we have demonstrated how serious we are about offering the best university sports programme in Scotland. A student's experience of sport at university is so important and we are putting a lot of effort and resource into rugby.

"The new relationship with Glasgow Hawks RFC will be of enormous benefit to both the university and the club and we are confident it will entice more young, ambitious rugby players to choose the University of Glasgow for their studies.

"We understand the route that young players must take to play top-level rugby in Scotland and we hope our relationship with Hawks can help as many as possible fulfil their rugby ambitions."

This article was posted on 25-Sep-2013, 06:41 by Hugh Barrow.