Southern
Full nameSouthern
UnionScottish Rugby Union
Founded1870
Disbandedc. 1889
LocationGlasgow, Scotland
Ground(s)Practice Ground
Castle Ground

Southern was a Scottish rugby union club in Glasgow of the nineteenth century.[1]

Founded

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The Scottish Referee stated on Friday 18 October 1895 that Glasgow's Clydesdale rugby club was 'something of the old Southern'.[2]

History

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Rugby union in Ardrossan evidently was on the rise - as within a month of the Castle side's first match, another Ardrossan rugby union side became its main rival. Simply known as Ardrossan, this side had played Ardrossan Castle on the 24th September 1870 and had a re-match on 1 October 1870. The Castle side were now playing on the Castle ground. The first match is noted as being played over a two-hour period, divided into four half-hours. There was no scoring for the first hour but McAusland scored a try for Castle; and Hughes scored a try for Ardrossan; more crucially for the scoring at the time both conversions were good. Brown got another try for Castle but the goal attempt was missed. In the fourth half-hour, the Castle scored another try through Shaw. The conversion not recorded was obviously successful as the newspaper reports that Castle won the match by a goal.[3]

In March 1871 a rugby union match was played between Ardrossan Castle and Paisley. This match ended in a no-scoring draw; but the return match was won by Paisley by a try to zero.[4][5]

It is likely that the club folded by 1889; when the lack of sports grounds available to Ardrossan sides had put paid to their existence.[6]

Other sports

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Southern also had a cricket club.[7]

References

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Category:Scottish rugby union teams Category:Rugby union in Glasgow Category:Defunct Scottish rugby union clubs Category:1855 establishments in Scotland