Hillfoots RFC is delighted to be working with a new Head Coach for the 2013/14 Season. Stuart McGee has joined the Club to lead the Adult Section Coaching Team who will focus upon both our 1st XV and our 2nd XV.
Stuart is coming full circle with his move to Hillfoots, having begun his rugby career playing for the Club as a mini. In between, Stuart has had very impressive rugby career which he shares with us below.
Stuart was born in Stirling and was introduced to rugby by his grandfather and his brother who were both heavily involved at Hillfoots RFC in the 1980’s and 90’s. He attended Alva Primary School before moving down south with his family and then to America. He returned home to Scotland aged 10, attending Tillicoultry Primary school, then moving to high school at Alva Academy. Stuart studied Sport Studies at Stirling University and gained a 2(i) BA Honours degree.
On his return to Scotland, Stuart played rugby for Stirling County and he made his Premiership 1 debut aged only 17 for Stirling county 1st XV.
Stuart’s considerable rugby honours include:- Caledonia U16’s, U18’s district champions, Scotland U18A, FIRRA tournament in Lille – France, Scotland U19’s Six Nations and IRB World Cup in Dubai, Scotland U20’s Six Nations, Scottish Thistle’s 7’s select for Melrose 7’s, Glasgow Warriors – Senior development team.
Over the years Stuart has been coached by:- Mark McKenzie, Bob McKillop, Graham Young, Eamon John and Peter Wright. Notice Bob McKillop in there! If you have a child in P6 this season, they too will be lucky enough to be coached by Bob.
Stuart tells us that he played most of his rugby as a Scrum-Half, but in high school he played Fly-Half and this was his position towards the end of his playing career.
After his first season at Stirling, Stuart headed off to New Zealand where he played for 3 months for the NZ Premier League team Upper Hutt RFC. Whilst in NZ, Staurt was lucky enough to play alongside players like Cory Jane and other All Blacks who were in the Upper Hutt side.
Returning to Scotland, Stuart moved to Boroughmuir RFC and played in their Premier 1 Championship winning side of 2008. He was also a player in their Scottish Cup semi finalist side of 2007.
Between 2009 and 2011 Stuart was injured for 2 full seasons. He had to have two shoulder operations as well as suffering a broken ankle and undergoing an eye socket operation all through playing rugby. He’s certainly put his body on the line for the game of rugby!
Stuart then made a comeback playing at Falkirk RFC last season, followed by a decision to go overseas again to Canada to play for the Calgary Saints. Stuart returned from Canada in July this year to take up the Hillfoots RFC Head Coach position as well as a coaching position at Glasgow St. Aloysius school.
We asked Stuart about his coaching experience.
His coaching career began as a modern apprentice working under John Manson at Clackmannanshire Sports Development. Stuart had spells on elite youth rugby coaching camps over the summer seasons and was employed at Active Stirling as Head rugby coach where he was responsible for kids’ rugby development. Stuart coached the Stirling County Development senior men’s team and also had spells as a player coach at Falkirk RFC focusing upon the back division. He is currently working as a Rugby coach at Glasgow St. Aloysius school and brings all this experience to Hillfoots RFC.
We asked Stuart about why he decided to come to Hillfoots. He replied, “I decided to coach at Hillfoots as its where it all begun for me and it was a great opportunity to come coach senior rugby. I have been wanting to get into senior coaching for some time and I’m looking forward to the challenge of working with my home club.”
Stuart added, “I want to see the players develop in their rugby ability. They have already ready shown me the types of skills they have acquired, but its about working hard to obtain a consistent and cohesive game plan.”
We asked Stuart about who will be the 1st XV Captain, but he was keeping his cards close to his chest, “I still haven’t named the Captain.”. But he went on to say, “I want to see us play a simple but effective game of rugby. A work man like performance, where everyone buys into doing their key jobs on the park. That’s a true team performance and that’s what we will be striving to achieve all season.”
We wish Stuart and the Adult teams of Hillfoots all the very best of luck for the coming season. Let’s get behind them, especially at home games, by being pitch side and cheering them on!
