Glasgow Hawks RFC
At Glasgow Hawks our aim is to positively impact and drive standards of club rugby forward, to levels many in Scottish Rugby previously felt unattainable. Hawks have been and continue to be heavily involved and supportive of the development of a semi-professional eight team competition that sits immediately beneath the professional game. Through development of pathways for players who transition into or out of the professional level of the game it is vital a suitable level of club rugby is available for these performance players.
Glasgow Hawks have always been an ambitious club that has strived for excellence in all aspects of its rugby delivery to the Glasgow and West of Scotland Region. In recent times the club has gone through what can only be described as a turbulent existence. An extremely ambitious journey started with the employment of three full time staff; a Youth Development Manager, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Rugby. Shortly after this milestone in the clubs history the economy took its now well regarded downturn, which ultimately drastically affected the effectiveness of this ambitious structure. The resultant relegation from the RBS Premiership caused some soul searching and alternative business planning to adapt to the economic climate. The aim being to re-energise Hawks ambitious rugby performance and develop goals for the club and surrounding area which it serves.
Glasgow Hawks have recovered well from relegation and the need for a major restructure and, having gained promotion, are now in a strong position to challenge at the top end of the Scottish Premiership.
The Hawks Community Programme delivers curriculum sessions to 11 Primary schools and 3 secondary schools in the west side of the city (approximately 440 young people). From the Primary schools 7 have been supported in developing after-school clubs. A festival involving 120 P6 & 7 children was held at Victoria Park on 2nd May 2014. Active school coordinators pass on information on our founder and associate clubs' mini rugby sections - GHK, Accies and Clydebank - as appropriate. The 3 secondary schools (Drumchapel High, Knightswood and Saint Thomas') participated in the Scottish schools emerging cup for the first time.
This has been a particularly successful programme which, after hard initial promotional work, is now bearing fruit with the state schools involved at last accepting our introduction of rugby to their youngsters.
However our community programme, which operates in one of the most deprived areas in Scotland, is under considerable pressure due to the economic climate and the subsequent withdrawal of trust support which we have been receiving over the past years.
The contribution from FoSR will allow us not only to continue with this programme but also seek additional support to establish one of the secondary schools we are currently working with as a Rugby school supported by SRU. In addition we are seeking to establish a 'high performance' rugby academy at Hawks in support of the best young talent in Glasgow.
Brian Simmers
Honorary President
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Glasgow Hawks