We are delighted to share that GHA Rugby Club has been featured in this month’s edition of the Southsider Magazine, celebrating the strength of our community, our continued growth, and the achievements of our teams across all levels.
“Together Stronger”: How GHA Rugby Club transforms teamwork and community success for the future.
Braidholm’s family-centred community spirit is shaped by the relationships formed through teamwork on the field, which extend well beyond practice and game days.
GHA’s Rugby Club is Giffnock-based. Established in 2002, the rugby club was formed through the merger of the two original clubs of Glasgow’s south side: Glasgow Southern RFC and Hutchesons’ Aloysian RFC. The merging of the three legacy clubs helped establish the premier rugby on Glasgow’s south side. Since the club’s formation, GHA has been an essential part of community life, a focus that it maintains in all aspects of the club’s operations.
The club has achieved significant successes over the years. However, this year the spirit of the GHA community has excelled. The delivery of on-pitch performance by the club’s men’s teams has demonstrated excellent teamwork and effort in recent matches played across all levels. The club holds the National League 1 champions and the Scottish Cup Champions in 24/25.
It is worth noting that there are now 440 junior players, which is remarkable.
Showing that the GHA community continues to expand. This expansion and consistency in gameplay have benefited the club, enabling it to hold the West Youth Shield for Under-18s and the West Youth Cup for Under-15s.
Not to mention the significance of the role that volunteer coaches play as an essential part of the GHA framework, there are currently 70 volunteer coaches working closely with the GHA Rugby club. These key milestones are crucial for both demonstrating the club’s legacy and enhancing the visibility of GHA’s local identity in Glasgow.
However, this is not all possible without GHA’s strong community hold, where efforts are not just on the pitch but also behind it. There are many efforts placed around this. The GHA Rugby Club’s ties to the community are fundamental to its success. Beyond game days, the club serves as a genuine community hub by organising well-known events that unite people from all over the south side, such as the Giffnock Beer Festival and Fireworks Display. The recent ticketed fireworks displays were a grand success. Its dedication to the community is evident, ranging from bolstering regional food banks to advocating for national charities like Cash for Kids. Where GHA raised 25k for the charity, through these initiatives, as well as by forming solid partnerships with nearby companies such as Arnold Clark through sponsorships and advertising, GHA strengthens its foundation for long-term rugby success, as well as its relationships within the community.
Looking into the future of GHA, the importance of allowing inclusivity is also vital to the club. This is evident in the discussion on the development of women’s rugby. There is currently no women’s rugby team at GHA, but there is an opportunity for growth that will hopefully expand in the near future.
The community-driven spirit of the Club will be showcased later this month, on November 15th. GHA RFC will go head-to-head against Glasgow Accies for the Men’s Scottish Cup on the Braidholm grounds.
Join us as we aim to become Scotland’s leading community rugby club, from minis to the Premiership.
