From Celtic League to URC: two decades of Glasgow memories

From Celtic League to URC: two decades of Glasgow memories

  • 17 Aug 2021

It’s been a competition that’s had many names, faces and formats, but it’s the competition that Glasgow Warriors have called home for the last two decades.

On Friday 17
August 2001, a Richie Dixon-led Glasgow side stepped out onto the Donnybrook
field for their first-ever match in the inaugural Celtic League campaign. From opening
night in Dublin to looking forward to a first trip to Durban – with help from
resident stats supremo Kevin Millar (@topofthemoongw), we take a look at some
of the numbers behind the last two decades…

391

The total number of regular-season matches played by Glasgow Warriors in the various iterations of the competition.

54%

The win percentage for Glasgow Warriors in the competition, taking 211 victories, 14 draws and 166 defeats from their 391 matches to date.

10

Since the competition’s inception, the Warriors have graced the post-season on 10 occasions, first making the semi-finals in the inaugural 2001/02 season. Of course, there’ll be no need to remind the Warrior Nation of the club’s most famous post-season appearance…

2015

…but we’re going to do it anyway, with an unforgettable Scotstoun semi-final victory over Ulster preceding the famous 31-13 win over Munster in the 2015 Guinness PRO12 Final in Belfast.

95

With attacking rugby being a hallmark of Glasgow rugby throughout both the amateur and professional eras, it’s perhaps no surprise that the Warriors are closing in on a century of try bonus-points in the competition, having recorded 95 to date.

993

Similarly, the 2021/22 season should see a milestone moment in the club’s history, with Danny Wilson’s men just seven tries away from scoring 1,000 in the competition.

43

Of the 993 tries scored by the Warriors, no-one has scored more than the one and only DTH van der Merwe. The club’s record try-scorer has crossed the whitewash for a host of memorable scores, including the winner in the 2015 semi-final over Ulster and grabbing a brace against Zebre on his return to the club in 2018.


8,916

The total number of points scored by Glasgow players in the competition’s history.

1,105

Dan Parks holds the record for the most points scored by a Warrior in the competition’s history, with the club’s record points-scorer tallying 1,105 of his 1,520 points in Glasgow colours in the Celtic League or PRO12.

195

The player to have made the most competition appearances for Glasgow will come as no surprise to the Warrior Nation, with Rob Harley leading the way for the Scotstoun side. The former West of Scotland man is five appearances away from racking up a double century, a milestone he should reach during the 2021/22 campaign.

22

The number of different opponents faced by Glasgow Warriors in the past two decades of competition. This tally will rise by four in the 2021/22 season, with the Sharks, Bulls, Stormers and Lions all entering the new United Rugby Championship.

Curious to see how Glasgow have fared against each opponent?


1

Andy Nicol was the first player to captain Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic League, leading his team out for that opening match at Donnybrook 20 years ago today. The full squad for that match was as follows:

Glasgow: Dave Hilton, Gordon Bulloch, Lee Harrison, Steve Griffiths, Jason White, Gordon Simpson, Donnie Macfadyen, Jon Petrie; Andy Nicol (C), Tommy Hayes, Rory Kerr, Andy Henderson, James McLaren, Jon Steel, Graeme Kiddie.

Replacements: Gavin Scott, Cameron Blades, Nathan Ross, Gareth Flockhart, Chris Black, Ian McInroy, Jonathan Stuart.

Yes, it’s certainly been a memorable two decades for Glasgow Warriors – now who’s ready for some more memories over the next 20 years?

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