Our Club History
Garioch Rugby Football Club was formed by 2 members of Aberdeenshire RFC, Dr James Black and John Fraser during the winter of 1976-77, in order to introduce rugby to the Garioch area of Aberdeenshire. At the time there were no facilities for the game in the area, but an initial meeting in Inverurie on the 21st February 1977 created the nucleus of the Club with 20 people attending. By the end of March 1977, there were around 30 members and training had started. On the 4th April 1977, admission to the North District Rugby Union was approved and friendly matches were played during April, including against an Aberdeen Select and with another newly formed club - Aboyne. These fixtures became an annual contest for the Shire and Hay Cups respectively.
A full fixture list of friendlies was arranged for the 1977-78 season, including a gala match between a Captain's XV and a Presidents XV at Kellands Park on September 7th 1977. The teams for this match consisted of both Garioch and guest players from other clubs, including 3 internationalists. During this season, Garioch accepted an invitation from Huntly RFC to participate in the Strathbogie Cup, which they have since won several times.
Sevens rugby is experienced each spring with Garioch hosting its invitational sevens, formerly having been known as the Aberdeen & District Sevens.
Competitive league rugby commenced in season 1978-79 with entry to the newly formed Aberdeen and District League with Garioch running out champions and again in the following season. By 1981, Garioch competed in the Midlands District League and did so for 4 seasons, becoming champions in 1984-85. thereby gaining promotion to division 7 of the SRU National Leagues.
The "Pagoda" in Kellands Park is the Club's headquarters and social club.
Many successful fund-raisers have been held including one highly lucrative barn dance graced by Erica Roe, the Twickenham Stripper.
Perhaps GRC's biggest ongoing success is the Annual Dinner which has attracted many famous speakers, including internationalists such as Willie John McBride, Colin Deans, Gordon Brown, Scott Hastings, Rob Wainwright, Keith Robertson, Ian McGeechan OBE, Jim Fleming OBE, Chris Cusiter and, for its 30th anniversary....Andy Irvine, the incumbant SRU President.
Today the Club fields 2 XVs and has a highly successful and well organised youth section which was established in the 1990s.
Several tours have been held - to Wales in 1996 where Brackla Rugby Club entertained in the best Rugby traditions, to Islay in 1998 and more recently in Easter 2000, 17 kilted warriors ventured abroad to Stavanger in Norway where they routed the opposition 51-7. Then they went on to overwhelm the town in a frenzy of drinking, looting, pillaging and drinking again................
Another tour took place to Dublin in April 2003 when over 2 dozen disappeared for a few days, leaving their brains in Dyce airport's left luggage lockers to be collected on the way back. After this, it was suggested that we try and join an Irish league!
Season 1999 - 2000 closed with Garioch winning the North District League allowing progression back into the National Leagues - NL5 (North).
Unfortunately the Club dropped back down to the North District League in season 2003 - 04,
In 2004, a radical new approach was taken with Garioch bringing in Aaron Gilbert-Smith as Coach / Player from Aukland, New Zealand who greatly assisted in the team bouncing back in 2004 - 05, winning the NDL again plus the Referees Cup and re-gaining promotion to National 5 Caledonia.
The 1st XV was promoted in 2008/09 to Caledonia League Division 1 (National 4) after an impressive season.
The Club is also fielding squads throughout all the age-groups from micros to U18s.
