Graham Calder

Graham Calder is a Scottish rugby union player, formerly of Glasgow Warriors at professional level and Heriots, Peebles, Currie,[3] and Stirling County and currently at Dalziel. Calder plays at Scrum-Half but can also cover at Fly-Half.

Graham Calder

Birth name	Graham Calder
Date of birth	c. 1981[1]
Place of birth	Scotland
School	Dalziel High School[2]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-Half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1998-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2007 2007-2010 2010-present Dalziel Heriots Peebles Currie Stirling County Dalziel 66 38 271 11 Correct as of 3 April 2019 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2005-06 Glasgow Warriors ()

Amateur career

Calder started his rugby career at Dalziel RFC before moving to Heriots,[4] Peebles,[5] Currie,[6] and Stirling County.[7]

He was part of the Glasgow Thistles squad in season 1999-2000. The Thistles were used as an academy side by Glasgow Warriors and sent to New Zealand for rugby training.[8]

Calder is now at Dalziel.[1]

Professional career

In season 2005-06, Calder joined Glasgow Warriors on a trial.

A knee injury in the first game of the season to Sam Pinder against Ayr RFC meant that Calder was called upon almost immediately. Coach Hugh Campbell said "He fitted in very well considering he had met up with the team only tonight."[9]

Although Glasgow Warriors won the match 40 - 10 and his performance was praised, it was Calder's only appearance for the Warriors.[10]

Festival Director

Calder now runs the annual Festival of Youth Rugby in Dalziel.[11] The festival showcases youth rugby in Scotland, although youth teams from Northern Ireland and England also take part as guest touring teams.[11][12] The tournament annually attracts around a thousand boys and girls.[13]

The festival was started in 1991 by Graham Calder's father Alan Calder. The Alan Calder trophy is handed out to the Under 18 winners.[11] Alan Calder died in 2008 but is still remembered as a Dalziel RFC legend,[14][15] having previously been club captain and president.[16]

The festival celebrated its silver anniversary in 2015.[17][18] Since 2016 the Festival of Youth Rugby plays its matches on all-weather parks.[13]

Calder stated: "Over the years we’ve seen the playing fields and facilities here at Dalziel evolve to become among the very best in Scotland. It’s fitting the 26th festival action will be played on the brand new all-weather parks, marking that progress. Where the landscape has changed, one thing that’s always remained a constant here is the spirit of rugby. The festival brings all hands to the pump, and the teamwork and the sense of fun and camaraderie has been the very lifeblood of the event since 1991."[13]

Former Dalziel and Glasgow Warriors players like Gary Strain[19] and Brian Robertson support the event.

References

1. "Graham Calder".
2. School, Dalziel High. "S1/2 Rugby Squad - Dalziel High School".
3. "Currie Rugby Football Club".
4. "Heriot's to parade bright young stars".
5. "BT premiership 1: how they shape up".
6. "Watsonians too hot for Currie".
7. "Heriots v Stirling County match report". Sky Sports.
8. "Representative Honours - dalziel rugby".
9. "Coaches Pleased With Practice Venture - Scottish Rugby Union".
10. "Ayr v Glasgow Warriors match report". Glasgow Warriors.com.
11. "Young rugby talent put on show at Dalziel".
12. "Youth Rugby Festival is praised by Scottish rugby great".
13. Greenan, Leona (22 April 2016). "Dalziel Festival of Rugby is set for Saturday, April 23".
14. Club, Dalziel Rugby. "26th Annual Festival of Youth Rugby - 23/04/2016".
15. "Alan Calder".
16. Administrator, dailyrecord (23 August 2011). "Dalziel RFC skipper relishing new season".
17. "SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF SHOWCASE RUGBY FESTIVAL SETS THE GOLD STANDARD".
18. "Dalziel rugby festival celebrates 25 years".
19. "24th annual Dalziel festival provides a feast of rugby".

External links

• Festival of Youth Rugby in Dalziel - Daily Record