In Paris on 27 August 1995 a meeting of the International Rugby Board declared that professionalism was to be allowed in rugby. At that time there were differing views as to whether districts or Premier clubs in Scotland would take the game forward into the professional era and, with a number of top Glasgow players moving east, Glasgow rugby was looking extremely vulnerable. Although some thought it highly unlikely that Glasgow Academicals and GHK might merge, during season 1996–97 Brian Simmers decided it was worth looking at. After meetings with the SRU, Dunc Paterson, Bill Watson, Jim Telfer and Bill Hogg, and meetings with senior players from both clubs, Fergus Wallace and Murray Wallace, Walter Malcolm, Cameron Little, Gordon Mackay, Charles Afuakwah, Stuart Simmers, he produced a proposal for rugby at Anniesland which created a new club, Glasgow Hawks, but retained the "founder" clubs, Glasgow Academicals and GHK. Discussions had also taken place with West of Scotland to come on board but these did not progress. However the "W" in HAWKS still remains. This initial structure was finalised with the help of Sandy Neilson, Lorne Crerar, Richard Eadie, Graham McKnight, Sandy Bannerman, David Jerdan, Kenny Hamilton, David Williams and Hugh Barrow and it was agreed that this was preferable to a straight merger as it would maximise player numbers at Old and New Anniesland. Ownership of Glasgow Hawks RFC Limited would be one share each held by Glasgow Academicals Sports Club and GHK. It was also agreed that Hawks 1st XV would play alternately at Old and New with the 2nd XV playing at the unused ground.. Brian Simmers established with the SRU that Hawks would take over the top club's position in Premier 2 from the end of season 1996–97 but was unable to persuade them to allow GHK and Accies a position in the National Divisions and they therefore had to start at the foot of the Regionals. This structure was presented to each of the "founder" clubs at EGMs, both held on 3 June 1997, and a massive majority at each club agreed the proposal. In June 2003 Glasgow Hawks became a full member of the SRU.
Rugby
In season 1997–98 contracted players were playing for Premier 1 clubs and Hawks, funded by generous sponsors, had managed to pull together a formidable squad. The majority were Scottish representative players with eventual internationalists Glenn Metcalfe, Derek Stark and Murray Wallace joined by Cook Island internationalists Tommy Hayes and Mike Beckham. Hawks won the second division league title, the Scottish Cup and were 2nd XV league champions. At the end of this very successful season eight players moved out of Hawks to professional rugby in Scotland and beyond. 1999–00: Hawks lost to Boroughmuir in the Scottish Cup Final and played the Co-optimists to mark the opening of the Jimmie Ireland stand at Old Anniesland and combined with West of Scotland, again to play the Co-optimists, to mark the opening of their new stand at Burnbrae. 2001–02: Hawks are runners-up to Hawick in the Scottish Cup Final. 2003–04: Hawks win Premier 1 Championship, Scottish Cup and 2nd XV Championship. 2004–05: Hawks retain Premier 1 and 2nd XV LeagueChampionships 2005–06: Hawks secure the hattrick of Premier 1 Championships at Meggetland, the first time in 80 years that a club from Glasgow has achieved this honour. 2006–07: Hawks win the Scottish Cup for the third time and in May 2007 beat the Royal Navy in a memorial match for Craig Hodgkinson. It has always been a policy of Hawks to test themselves against "foreign" opposition: 1998, Stade Toulousain, France 1999, Club Atlético del Rosario, Argentina 2003, Tour of South Africa 2004, Sale Academy 2005, Racing Club de France 2006, Capitolina, Rome All of these games were won except against Capitolina. Hawks has accepted the introduction of the professional districts and agree with the decision by the SRU in 2007 to reduce the number of districts to two on the grounds that they are effectively funded and therefore should become successful in Celtic and European competition, which must be of benefit to the national team.
