Stirling County RFC

{{Short description|Scottish rugby union club, based in Stirling}}

{{Infobox rugby team

| teamname = Stirling County

| image = Stirling county rfc logo.png

| imagesize = 100

| union = SRU

| fullname = Stirling County Rugby Football Club

| nickname = County

| founded = {{Start date and age|1946}}

| ground = Bridgehaugh

| capacity = 4,000

| chairman =

| ceo =

| president = John Gibson

| captain = Reyner Kennedy

| coach = Eddie Pollock

| url = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_County_RFC

| league = {{color box|#DAEFF6|Men:}} {{Scottish rugby updater|Stirling}}
{{color box|#DAEFF6|Women:}} {{Scottish rugby updater|WomenStirlingCounty}}

| season = {{Scottish rugby updater|Stirling2}}

| position = {{color box|#DAEFF6|Men:}} {{Scottish rugby updater|Stirling3}}
{{color box|#DAEFF6|Women:}} {{Scottish rugby updater|WomenStirlingCounty3}}

| pattern_la1 = _blackredhoops

| pattern_b1 = _black_white_hoops

| pattern_ra1 = _blackredhoops

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_so1 = _hoops_black_white

| leftarm1 = ffffff

| body1 = ff0000

| rightarm1 = ffffff

| shorts1 = 000000

| socks1 = ff0000

}}

Stirling County RFC is a Scottish rugby union club based in Stirling. The club plays its home games at Bridgehaugh. It runs a number of sides. The men's side competes in the {{Scottish rugby updater|Stirling}}, the women's side competes in the {{Scottish rugby updater|WomenStirlingCounty}}.

Between the 2019-2020 and 2023-2024 seasons the club ran a men's professional side known as Stirling Wolves which competed in the Super 6 league and Super Sprint competitions.

History

During the season of 2004–05, Stirling County celebrated its centenary. Rugby has its origins in the town in the 1870s, resulting in the formation of Stirling HSFP in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The F.P. club joined the Scottish Rugby Union in 1904, hence the celebration of the centenary this season. In 1925, Bridge of Allan Rugby Club was founded with both clubs uniting in 1946 to form Stirling County.

While the team of 1959–60 went undefeated, it was not until the formation of the national leagues in the 1970s that Stirling had a springboard to success. Another vital factor was the creation of a strong and vibrant youth section at this time. In 1995, County achieved the unique distinction of being the first club to rise through the ranks from the depths of the seventh division and win the Scottish Championship.

Uniquely, the club played against the Barbarians at Stirling Albion F.C. home, Forthbank Stadium in 1995. The club has been prolific in producing a large number of age-group internationalists while senior internationalists who have worn County's colours include George Graham, Ally Hogg, Ian Jardine, Alastair Kellock, Kenny Logan, Kevin McKenzie, James McLaren, Grant Gilchrist, Adam Ashe, Nick Grigg Jamie Bhatti and Finn Russell.

In 2012–13, County recorded their highest league finish for 16 years, third place in RBS Premier One, and qualified for the cross-border British & Irish Cup competition for the second consecutive year.

Stirling County also has the most successful youth set-up, winning the Scottish National Youth League Cup more times than any other team,

Stirling County RFC compete in the Scottish Rugby Super Series as Stirling Wolves and represent Caledonia District in the competition.{{Cite web|url= https://stirlingcounty-rfc.co.uk/}} In 2023, they became the last ever winners of the FOSROC Super Series Championship, defeating the Ayrshire Bulls in the final.

Stirling County 1st XV compete in National League Division 2 while the Wolves Second XV play in West Reserve League Division 1.

Stirling County's Women's play in the top-flight BT Women's Premier League.

Current squad

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; width:70%"
colspan="100%" \| Stirling Wolves Super Series Championship squad 2023:
valign="top" \| Props {{flagicon\|SCO}} George Breese {{flagicon\|SCO}} Lliam Quarm {{flagicon\|SCO}} Adam Wood {{flagicon\|LIT}} Marius Tamosaitis {{flagicon\|SCO}} Lewis Skinner {{flagicon\|SCO}} Moby Ogunlaja Hookers {{flagicon\|SCO}} Reyner Kennedy (c) {{flagicon\|SCO}} Gregor Hiddleston Locks {{flagicon\|SCO}} James Pow {{flagicon\|SCO}} Hamish Ferguson {{flagicon\|SCO}} Tom Smith	Back row {{flagicon\|ENG}} Ed Hasdell {{flagicon\|SCO}} Ruaridh Knott {{flagicon\|ENG}} Ed Timpson {{flagicon\|SCO}} Connor Gordon^ {{flagicon\|SCO}} Shaun McDonald Scrum halves {{flagicon\|SCO}} Ben Afshar {{flagicon\|SCO}} Eric Davey {{flagicon\|SCO}} Kyle Mcghie	Fly halves {{flagicon\|SCO}} Craig Jackson {{flagicon\|CYP}} Marcus Holden Centres {{flagicon\|RSA}} Ryan Southern {{flagicon\|SCO}} Mikey Heron {{flagicon\|SCO}} Cameron Scott^ {{flagicon\|SCO}} Craig Jardine Wings {{flagicon\|NZL}} Korie Winters {{flagicon\|SCO}} Samuel Rockley {{flagicon\|SCO}} Stevie Hamilton {{flagicon\|SCO}} Ross Mcknight Fullbacks {{flagicon\|SCO}} Glenn Bryce {{flagicon\|SCO}} Euan Cunningham
colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" \| (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. ^* denotes players qualified to play for Scotland on residency or dual nationality.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; width:70%"

colspan="100%" | Stirling Wolves Super Series Championship squad 2023:

valign="top"

Props

{{flagicon|SCO}} George Breese
{{flagicon|SCO}} Lliam Quarm
{{flagicon|SCO}} Adam Wood
{{flagicon|LIT}} Marius Tamosaitis
{{flagicon|SCO}} Lewis Skinner
{{flagicon|SCO}} Moby Ogunlaja

Hookers

{{flagicon|SCO}} Reyner Kennedy (c)
{{flagicon|SCO}} Gregor Hiddleston

Locks

{{flagicon|SCO}} James Pow
{{flagicon|SCO}} Hamish Ferguson
{{flagicon|SCO}} Tom Smith

Back row

{{flagicon|ENG}} Ed Hasdell

{{flagicon|SCO}} Ruaridh Knott

{{flagicon|ENG}} Ed Timpson

{{flagicon|SCO}} Connor Gordon^

{{flagicon|SCO}} Shaun McDonald

Scrum halves

{{flagicon|SCO}} Ben Afshar
{{flagicon|SCO}} Eric Davey
{{flagicon|SCO}} Kyle Mcghie

Fly halves

{{flagicon|SCO}} Craig Jackson

{{flagicon|CYP}} Marcus Holden

Centres

{{flagicon|RSA}} Ryan Southern
{{flagicon|SCO}} Mikey Heron
{{flagicon|SCO}} Cameron Scott^
{{flagicon|SCO}} Craig Jardine

Wings

{{flagicon|NZL}} Korie Winters
{{flagicon|SCO}} Samuel Rockley
{{flagicon|SCO}} Stevie Hamilton
{{flagicon|SCO}} Ross Mcknight

Fullbacks

{{flagicon|SCO}} Glenn Bryce
{{flagicon|SCO}} Euan Cunningham

colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" | (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
^* denotes players qualified to play for Scotland on residency or dual nationality.

Glasgow Warriors players drafted:

{{flagicon|SCO}} Gregor Brown
{{flagicon|SCO}} Logan Trotter
{{flagicon|SCO}} Max Williamson

Table

Sevens

The club run the Stirling Sevens tournament. Teams play for the Dr. Welsh Cup. The tournament began in 1948, two years after the County side was created.{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/stirling-sevens/|title=Stirling Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}

Honours

=Men=

Super Series (Scottish rugby union competition)
Champions (1): 2023–24 Super Series

Stirling Sevens
Champions (12): 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 2013
Scottish Premiership
Champions (1): 1994-95
Hawick Wanderers & PSA Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/hawick-wanderers-psa-sevens/|title=Hawick Wanderers & PSA Sevens|date=June 29, 2019}}
Champions (1): 1990
Lochaber Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/lochaber-sevens/|title=Lochaber Sevens|date=June 11, 2019}}
Champions (1): 1994
Highland Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/highland-sevens/|title=Highland Sevens|date=June 10, 2019}}
Champions (5): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, 1996
Arran Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/arran-sevens/|title = Arran Sevens|date = 10 June 2019}}
Champion (2): 1994, 1996
Mull Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/mull-sevens/|title=Mull Sevens|date=June 8, 2019}}
Champions (7): 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011
Alloa Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/alloa-sevens/|title=Alloa Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}
Champions (2): 1990, 1995
Strathendrick Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/strathendrick-sevens/|title=Strathendrick Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}
Champions (2): 1994, 1998
Glenrothes Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/glenrothes-sevens/|title = Glenrothes Sevens|date = 7 June 2019}}
Champions (1): 1983
Earlston Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/earlston-sevens/|title=Earlston Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}
Champions (1): 1995
Ayr Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/ayr-sevens/|title=Ayr Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}
Champions (1): 1987
Kirkcaldy Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/kirkcaldy-sevens/|title=Kirkcaldy Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}
Champions (1): 1984
Currie Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/currie-sevens/|title=Currie Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}
Champions (1): 1993
Greenock Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/greenock-sevens/|title=Greenock Sevens|date=June 7, 2019}}
Champions (1): 1991
Crieff Sevens{{Cite web|url=https://scottishsevens.sport.blog/crieff-sevens/|title=Crieff Sevens|date=7 June 2019}}
Champions (2): 2010, 2011

=Women=

Mull Sevens
Champions (2): 2014, 2015

References

External links

{{Official website}}

Category:Rugby union teams in Scotland

Category:Rugby clubs established in 1946

Category:1946 establishments in Scotland

Category:Rugby union in Stirling (council area)

Category:Sport in Stirling (city)