Other Sports at Celtic Park | Celtic Park
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Ref: Rugby Union matches played at Celtic Park, and other Celtic related links
aka: Egg-chasing, ra-ra, kick & clap
Rugby Union Matches played at Celtic: 25 May 2019
Summary
Rugby (in both codes) and football have never really mixed well in Glasgow. Football (association rules) is the chosen sport of Scotland despite the exaggerations of the grandees across in Edinburgh (or the private schools in the West of Scotland) of their preferred football code. Attempts to spread their games have always come up against a brickwall of indifference but it has grown since Rugby Union went professional.
Despite all that, Rugby Union still has a number of followers in Scotland, and that has overlapped with what have been traditionally football families. Middle & Upper Classes generally are where its main base lies in Scotland (and football is far stronger in the Borders than Rugby Union despite the once again repeated exaggerations by its followers).
Rugby League is often the preferred rugby viewing by the working classes in Scotland but it has failed to gain a true foothold with only a cult following, and Celtic once hosted an international rugby league match between England and Australia in an inaugural tour by the latter.
As for hosting Rugby Union matches, the first at Celtic Park was in May 2019 (see below). Celtic passed on the chance to hold the Rugby 7’s during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, opting to host the Opening Ceremony, with Ibrox Stadium instead hosting the Rugby 7’s tournament in the Games.
Unsurprisingly, as certain Celtic players have done well financially, their children have been sent to private schools through which they have been introduced to Rugby Union with some making a name for themselves in the game. For example:
- Sandy Carmichael (pictured above), a famous ex-Scotland rugby union international from the 1970s, is the grandson of former Celtic player Alec Bennett (note that the full name of Alec Bennett’s rugby playing grandson is Alexander Bennett Carmichael, most probably titled in honour of his grandfather).
- James Craig (see pic on right), an ex-Scotland rugby union international, is the son of a Celtic great: Lisbon Lions’ Jim Craig.
Despite the links, there has been antagonism towards rugby union, be it due to its perceived Englishness, class tensions, general inter-sport/inter-city rivalry and inverted snobbery. Then again it might simply be that the supporters in general just can’t stand rugby union and its disproportionate coverage given by the media. It has an exaggerated level of importance given in Scotland, and that the establishment give it full backing compared to the lukewarm support to Scottish football doesn’t help.
Ex-Celtic board member Michael Kelly even pompously criticised in his book (‘Paradise Lost‘ p.148-149) a cheer from some in the Celtic support in the stand he was in when he heard them celebrate a defeat for the Scotland rugby side v England (it was at some time in the early 1990s). Although note the cheer was not for any love of England but was more for taunting the opposition Raith Rovers fans. As the then under the cosh Michael Kelly arrogantly put it (missing the whole point of everything):
“And these are the guys who are passing judgement on me?”
Rugby Union still has a popular following amongst a minority of Celtic supporters, and some follow the Glasgow Warriors rugby side as well as Celtic, but the atmosphere at the Glasgow Warriors rugby games is paltry compared to that at the football.
One notable close-call was in 1909. Australia’s trail blazing Rugby League side were on tour in the UK, and played v England at Celtic Park. Australia’s dual-code (Union & League) internationalist Herbert Henry (‘Dally’) Messsenger so impressed on the day that Celtic manager Willie Maley attempted to get him to stay with an offer of a sum of £1000 to sign on for Celtic as an outside-right. Sadly, Dally had promised his mother faithfully to return home, no matter what offers were made to keep him in England (albeit in this case, it was signing up to play in Scotland). Dally is a legendary figure for Australian sport, and there is even a statue of him outside the iconic Sydney Football Stadium in Australia.
An interesting point is that the first strip of the Irish national rugby side was green & white hoops, as worn in their inaugural match back in 1875.
Still, rugby is with us, and will long be part of the landscape in this country. At Celtic, it has been only a footnote but some notable connections.
Anecdotes/Trivia
- Two sons of ex-Celts have won Scotland Caps (Sandy Carmichael and James Craig)
- Eoghan O’Connell: Just as he won his debut for Celtic (March 2014), it was a proud time as his cousin Paul O’Connell was captain of the Irish national Rugby side. Ireland had just won the Rugby Six Nations Championships to seal the end of the career of their legendary player Brian O’Driscoll.
- Celtic have hosted a ‘Guinness League Pro 14’ Rugby final at Celtic Park (2019).
- Celtic have played ‘home’ matches at Murrayfield Stadium (see below for details).
- Celtic has also hosted an international Rugby League match (England v Australia). After this match, Celtic tried to sign the legendary Australian dual rugby code internationalist HH Messenger, but to no avail.
Celtic playing ‘at home’ at Murrayfield Stadium (Edinburgh)
Back in 2014, due to the Commonwealth Games being held across the major stadia in Glasgow, Celtic were forced to play ‘home’ games for a month at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh (the ‘home’ of Scottish Rugby).
In 2018, following a furore of two league cup semi-finals to be played on one day at Hampden, a Celtic v Hearts match was rearranged to Murrayfield.
- See following link for more details: Murrayfield Stadium
Guinness League Pro 14 Final played at Celtic Park
Date: 25 May 2019
Despite the lack of strength & support in Scotland, Rugby Union has grabbed a hold in Ireland, and after Ireland won their third Grand Slam in 2018, it was later announced that Celtic Park in Glasgow was to host the final in May 2018 for their [Celtic & Italian] Guinness Pro 14 league grand final. An interesting choice, as if Irish sides make the final then it would be like home from home for some of them, although probably most football fans would still not be interested in the slightest.
Their Pro 14 League is most often not well supported (in attendances), with criticisms that the Welsh & Irish sides put out weaker sides in preference to their European matches. Fair enough, but it’s been a poor league to watch and even a dull & poor Glasgow side won the competition, much to the chagrin of those in Edinburgh. In truth, matches in that league have generally been turgid.
Regardless, they were trying to build the game, and on the back of the Glasgow Warriors’ victory it was felt that Glasgow could be a perfect choice. The hosting by Celtic Park was quite a coup as this would be the first time a non-rugby stadium would hold that final, but then again there were no sizeable dedicated rugby stadiums in Glasgow to really hold the match. The Glasgow Warriors rugby side’s stadium was really a joke.
“Celtic Park is a world-class venue and our success of hosting events in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and on Champions League nights, where we have welcomed some of the biggest names in world football, proves the stadium can produce unforgettable experiences time after time”
Peter Lawell (Celtic Chief Exec)
Leinster manager prior to the match:
“‘I believe Glasgow [Rugby] are all Rangers supporters’ – Leo Cullen hopeful Celtic faithful support Leinster in Glasgow final.”
25 May 2019: Leinster won 18-15 in front of 47k attendance. Match wasn’t said to be great, but it was still record making. Highest attendance for the Pro 14 final to date.
Played on the same day Celtic were playing in the Scottish Cup Final and won the Treble, making history with three domestic trebles in a row! Incredible. However caused some headaches and the clash was a nuisance.
Links
2019
Phil Bennett (Rugby legend 1970s)
This tells the story of the how the legendary Welsh rugby star Phil Bennett was invited to a trial with Celtic as a teenager.
Phil Bennett in the hoops (an absolute honour), one of the greatest sportsmen of his genre.
On this day Celtic drew 2-2 at Ibrox (Roy Aitken x2), whilst Wales beat Scotland at Murrayfield with Bennett scoring one of the greatest tries of all time.
fame not impressed with rugby marketing big matches like West v Oxford Uni @BurnbraeBull
@OxUniRugby
They paid kind of homage to it in 2000 with a change kit, but I guess the clash with Celtic might lead to some whining from some of those from the North.
James Craig son of Lisbon Lion Jim Craig
