Stirling County RFC is a Scottish rugby union club based in
Stirling
Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...
. The club plays its home games at
Bridgehaugh
Bridgehaugh Park is a rugby union ground in Stirling, Scotland, with a capacity of approximately 4,000.
It is the home of Stirling County RFC, who currently play in the Scottish Premiership.
Location
It is situated in a meander of the River ...
. It runs a number of sides. The professional men's side competes in the as the Stirling Wolves, the women's side competes in the .
History
During the season of 2004–05, Stirling County celebrated its centenary. Rugby has its origins in the town in the 1870s, resulting in the formation of Stirling HSFP in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The F.P. club joined the
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU; gd, Aonadh Rugbaidh na h-Alba) is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. Styled as Scottish Rugby, it is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873. The SRU oversees the national league s ...
in 1904, hence the celebration of the centenary this season. In 1925, Bridge of Allan Rugby Club was founded with both clubs uniting in 1946 to form Stirling County.
While the team of 1959–60 went undefeated, it was not until the formation of the national leagues in the 1970s that Stirling had a springboard to success. Another vital factor was the creation of a strong and vibrant youth section at this time. In 1995, County achieved the unique distinction of being the first club to rise through the ranks from the depths of the seventh division and win the Scottish Championship.
Uniquely, the club played against the Barbarians at
Stirling Albion F.C. home, Forthbank Stadium in 1995. The club has been prolific in producing a large number of age-group internationalists while senior internationalists who have worn County's colours include George Graham,
Allister Hogg
Allister Hogg (born 20 January 1983 in Stirling, Scotland) is a Scottish rugby union footballer who plays at either flanker or number eight formerly for Scotland and vice-captain for Newcastle Falcons.
Early life
He attended Stirling High Scho ...
,
Ian Jardine
Ian Jardine (born 20 October 1964, in Dunfermline) is a former Scottish international rugby union player, normally playing at the Centre (rugby union), Centre position.
Rugby Union Career
Amateur career
His career spanned the amateur era and ...
,
Alastair Kellock
Alastair 'Al' David Kellock (born 14 June 1981) is the managing director at Glasgow Warriors. He is a former Scotland international rugby union player. He played as a lock for Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors, captaining the Warriors to a Pr ...
,
Kenny Logan
Kenneth McKerrow Logan (born 3 April 1972) is a retired Scottish rugby union player who played wing for Stirling County RFC and Glasgow District at amateur level; Glasgow Warriors, Wasps RFC and London Scottish at professional level; and ...
,
Kevin McKenzie,
James McLaren
James "Jim / Fritz / Jock" Gerard McLaren (born 28 June 1972) is a Scottish dual-code international rugby league and rugby union footballer. He played representative level rugby league (RL) for the Scotland national rugby league team, and at cl ...
,
Grant Gilchrist
Grant Gilchrist (born 9 August 1990) is a Scottish rugby union player who plays at Rugby union positions#Locks, lock for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship.
Background
Gilchrist was schooled at Lornshill Academy, and played with ...
,
Adam Ashe
Adam Ashe (born 24 July 1993 in Glasgow) is a former Scotland international rugby union player and now rugby union coach. He is the Assistant Coach for the Stirling Wolves. He previously played for the LA Giltinis of Major League Rugby in the ...
,
Nick Grigg
Nick Grigg (born 18 September 1992) is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a Centre (rugby union), midfield back for US Carcassonne in the French Rugby Pro D2, Pro D2 competition. He previously played for NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osak ...
Jamie Bhatti and
Finn Russell
Finn Alastair Russell (born 23 September 1992) is a Scottish professional rugby union player who primarily plays fly-half for Racing 92 in the Top 14. He has also represented Scotland at international level, having made his test debut against t ...
.
In 2012–13, County recorded their highest league finish for 16 years, third place in RBS Premier One, and qualified for the cross-border British & Irish Cup competition for the second consecutive year.
Stirling County also has the most successful youth set-up, winning the Scottish National Youth League Cup more times than any other team,
Stirling County RFC Squad compete in the Scottish Rugby Super 6 Competition
Stirling County's Wolves XV compete in National League Division 1 while the Wolves Second XV play in West Reserve League Division 1.
Stirling County's Women's play in the top-flight BT Women's Premier League.
Current squad
Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors are a professional rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the United Rugby Championship league and in the European Professional Club Rugby tournaments. In the 2014–15 season they won the Pro12 title and became t ...
players drafted:
*
Adam Nicol
Adam Nicol (born 2 July 1997 in Aberdeen, Scotland) is a Scotland U20 international rugby union player who plays for Jersey Reds at the Tighthead Prop position. He previously played for Glasgow Warriors and Stirling County.
Rugby Union car ...
*
Adam Ashe
Adam Ashe (born 24 July 1993 in Glasgow) is a former Scotland international rugby union player and now rugby union coach. He is the Assistant Coach for the Stirling Wolves. He previously played for the LA Giltinis of Major League Rugby in the ...
*
Brandon Thomson
Brandon Terry Thomson (born 7 March 1995) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with Scottish Pro14 side Glasgow Warriors. His regular position is fly-half.
Rugby union career
Youth: Pumas and South African Schools
As a p ...
*
Bruce Flockhart
*
Andrew Davidson
*
Matt Smith
Matthew Robert Smith (born 28 October 1982) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as the Eleventh Doctor, eleventh incarnation of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor in the BBC series ''Doctor Who'' (2010–2013), Daemon Targarye ...
Table
Sevens
The club run the Stirling Sevens tournament. Teams play for the Dr. Welsh Cup. The tournament began in 1948, two years after the County side was created.
Honours
Men
* Stirling Sevens
** Champions (12): 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 2013
*
Scottish Premiership
The Scottish Premiership, known as the cinch Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish ...
** Champions (1): 1994-95
* Hawick Wanderers & PSA Sevens
** Champions (1): 1990
* Lochaber Sevens
** Champions (1): 1994
* Highland Sevens
** Champions (5): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, 1996
* Arran Sevens
** Champion (2): 1994, 1996
* Mull Sevens
** Champions (7): 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011
* Alloa Sevens
** Champions (2): 1990, 1995
* Strathendrick Sevens
** Champions (2): 1994, 1998
* Glenrothes Sevens
** Champions (1): 1983
*
Earlston Sevens
Earlston Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Earlston RFC, in Earlston, Scotland. This was one of a group of Sevens tournaments instated after the First World War extending the original Borders Spring Circuit. The Earlston Sevens beg ...
** Champions (1): 1995
* Ayr Sevens
** Champions (1): 1987
* Kirkcaldy Sevens
** Champions (1): 1984
* Currie Sevens
** Champions (1): 1993
* Greenock Sevens
** Champions (1): 1991
* Crieff Sevens
** Champions (2): 2010, 2011
Women
* Mull Sevens
** Champions (2): 2014, 2015
External links
* Official Site
Index of /
References
{{Rugby union in Scotland
Scottish rugby union teams
Rugby clubs established in 1946
1946 establishments in Scotland
Rugby union in Stirling