Skip to content
Whitecraigs Rugby Club
  • Home
  • Club
    • Annual Beer Festival
    • Club Chaplain
    • Coaching/Volunteering Qualifications
    • Committee
    • Community Sport Hub
    • Contact
    • The David Azhar Appeal
    • Facilities
    • Gallery
    • History
    • Membership
    • Volunteering
  • News
    • Committee
    • Juniors
    • Match Reports
    • Minis
    • Seniors
    • Social
    • Rugby
    • Squash
  • Rugby
    • Match Reports
    • Matchday Programme
    • Seniors
    • Juniors
    • Minis
    • Micro’s
    • Women’s Rugby
    • Shop
  • Sponsors
    • Current Sponsors
    • About Sponsorship
    • Sponsors’ Offers & Discounts
  • Other Sports
    • Archery
    • Fishing
    • Football
    • Squash
  • Child Protection

History

History

WRC logo sq no bg
WHITECRAIGS RUGBY CLUB was founded in 1928 in response to the need for an open rugby dub in the south-side of Glasgow, and the team played its first game on 15th September 1928 at Deaconsbank.

The ground was at that time tenanted by Whitecraigs Hockey Club, and the new rugby club sub-tenanted the less attractive part of the ground farther from the road. A stream ran down the middle of the ground, and as the washing facilities were both primitive and overused the stream was frequently used for washing after games.

As the rugby club grew bigger more space was needed, and the club built a new clubhouse with a large communal bath, making it no longer necessary to rely on the stream, although the myth still persists.

The rugby club then took over the tenancy of the whole ground. At that time, prior to the war, the club was playing in an unofficial league with Kilmarnock, Ayr, Uddingston, Bearsden, Lenzie, Cartho, Craigielea, Ardrossan, Old Spierians (now Garnock), Royal Technical College (now Strathclyde University), and Harland & Wolff, Whitehill, and Blairhill (all now defunct).

Soon after the outbreak of war the ground was taken over by the War Office, and the club disbanded. Deaconsbank became an Army camp, then a prison camp, and after the war the huts were taken over by squatters who stayed for many years.

Eventually, thanks to the tenacity of the pre-war members, the ground was eventually bought by the Club with vacant possession. Its condition was, however, absolutely dreadful. The foundations were cleared, the stream was piped, two pitches were relaid, a new clubhouse was built, and the club was finally refounded in 1960. The club after 21 years of war and post-war difficulties, resumed play on 8th October 1960 enjoying facilities which were at least the equal of any other club in Glasgow.

Progress since the re-founding has been steady. A bar was added and the Clubhouse was extended, both for social and changing purposes, squash courts were built, training lights were installed and an all-weather training area was added. Mini rugby and later midi and junior rugby were introduced successfully. Most significantly an area of ground, extending to an acre or so, was bought as an investment, and was latterly sold to the nursing home at a very healthy profit.

With the funds thus earned, the Club, through the associated Limited Company, began to consider the future. It had to be accepted that the pitches were unsatisfactory for much of the season. They were badly drained and not level. The clubhouse was quite inadequate for the numbers that now used it. With the money from the sale planning permission was obtained for Deaconsbank, and the ground was marketed, fetching a very handsome price. The ground at West Lodge was purchased, the three level, and dry, pitches were formed, and the magnificent new clubhouse was built.

Whereas the Club had about nine acres, it now has about twenty five. It is a sobering thought that the original development at Deaconsbank cost roughly l% of the new development at West Lodge!

We therefore enter a new era for the Club, full of optimism and ambition. The standard of rugby has been improving over the last few years, and we are anxious to maintain the upward progress. We are not so reliant on outside players, as we now have our own home-grown supply. This certainly does not mean that outsiders are not welcome. As always we shall look forward to a diversity of experience and character in the club.

We shall remain a non-professional club in the foreseeable future, and will strive to improve our standard, and play our part in developing the game in Scotland. We shall also maintain the welcoming reputation that the Club has always enjoyed.

We look forward to the future and, while doing so, also look back and remember the tremendous debt owed by the club to those young men who came back from the war and rebuilt the club.

IMG_8197

(The prewar history of the club was provided by the late Walter Strang, a founding member of the club whose family’s name was virtually synonymous with Whitecraigs. It is a matter of great sadness that Walter and many of the founder members are not here to see the new Whitecraigs.)

Squash Links

  • Fastcourts Court Bookings
  • Whitecraigs at Sporty HQ
  • West Squash
  • West Of Scotland Leagues
  • Scottish Squash
  • National League
  • Eye Rackets

Rugby Links

  • Scottish Rugby
  • BT National League Division 2
  • Club Shop
  • Old Pitchero Site

Latest News

  • Craigs News 23rd January 2021
  • 100 Club Recent Draws
  • Scottish Women and Girls Week – Women and Girls at Whitecraigs
  • Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week
  • Craigs News 8th Oct

Categories

Whitecraigs Rugby Club

West Lodge
Aurs Road
Newton Mearns
Glasgow
G77 6PX

+44 (0)141 616 3337

Whitecraigs Rugby Club

West Lodge
Aurs Road
Newton Mearns
Glasgow
G77 6PX

+44 (0)141 616 3337

Recent Post

  • Craigs News 23rd January 2021 25th January 2021
  • 100 Club Recent Draws 16th November 2020
  • Scottish Women and Girls Week – Women and Girls at Whitecraigs 1st November 2020
  • Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week 29th October 2020
  • Craigs News 8th Oct 8th October 2020
  • Craigs News 25th September 2020 25th September 2020
  • Craigs News 28th -30th August 27th August 2020
  • WRC – Advert from Caulders of Newton Mearns 17th July 2020
  • WRC – The Latest Offers from Taggarts Land Rover 16th July 2020
  • Whitecraigs Rugby Club – More News From Our Sponsors 15th July 2020

Latest News

  • Craigs News 23rd January 2021
  • 100 Club Recent Draws
  • Scottish Women and Girls Week – Women and Girls at Whitecraigs
  • Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week
  • Craigs News 8th Oct

Affiliations

Scottish Squash Logo

Sport Scotland

Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.