Derek Stark (rugby union)

Derek Stark
Birth nameDerek Alexander Stark
Date of birth (1966-04-13) 13 April 1966 (age 58)
Place of birthKilmarnock, Scotland
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight91 kg (14 st 5 lb)
SchoolKilmarnock Academy
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Kilmarnock RFC ()
– Guildford & Godalming RFC ()
– Chobham RFC ()
– Boroughmuir RFC ()
– Ayr RFC ()
– Glasgow Hawks ()
– Melrose RFC ()
– Boroughmuir RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996-2000 Glasgow Warriors 29 (45)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1987-96 Glasgow District ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1987 Scotland U21 2
Scotland Club XV
1988-92 Scotland B 5
1992-97 Scotland A 9
1993-97 Scotland 9 (15)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
Scotland 7s

Derek Stark (born 13 April 1966 in Kilmarnock) is a Scottish former international rugby union player who played for Glasgow Warriors at the Wing positions[1]

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Stark grew up in Kilmarnock playing rugby with Kilmarnock RFC and working in his parents hotel there, The Foxbar Hotel.

As a teenager he moved south to England to study a catering course in Woking at the Tante Marie Culinary Academy. While he was there he played amateur rugby for Guildford & Godalming RFC and Chobham RFC.[2]

After a sojourn into athletics, on seeing the top Caribbean athletes run slightly quicker, Stark moved back into rugby playing for Boroughmuir RFC.

Stark played for Ayr RFC[3]

He went on to play for amateur side Glasgow Hawks.[4][5]

Stark played for Melrose RFC[6] He played half a game for Melrose; one of the ten club sides that he played for.[7][8]

Stark again played for Boroughmuir RFC.[6] and won the BT Cellnet Cup with them in 2001.[9]

Provincial and professional career

He represented Glasgow District at U21 as well as 7s.[10]

Stark was again picked for Glasgow District when back at Ayr RFC.

He was part of Glasgow District's famous 1989-90 side which went unbeaten all season, winning that year's Scottish Inter-District Championship outright.[11]

On the amateur provincial Glasgow District's move into professionalism in 1996 as Glasgow Rugby - now Glasgow Warriors - Stark signed a professional contract with the Glasgow side. The move came at a time when Stark was considering a move to play for West Hartlepool RFC.[12]

As the Wing named for Warriors first match as a professional team - against Newbridge in the European Challenge Cup - Stark has the distinction of being given Glasgow Warrior No. 14 for the provincial side.

International career

Stark played for Scotland U21,[10] Scotland Club XV, Scotland B,[13] Scotland A and Scotland as well as Scotland 7s.[14]

He notably scored a try on his international Scotland debut in 1993.[2]

Athletics career

From rugby union, Stark tried his hand at being a sprinter,[15] He could run 100 metres (330 ft) in 10.6 seconds.[2]

Business career

For a short period, Stark - along with international teammates Rowen Shepherd and Gregor Townsend - owned a bar in Edinburgh's Grassmarket area. The bar was aptly named The Three Quarters.[16] Alongside track star Brian Whittle he was a co-director at PB events.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Player Archive : Statistics - EPCR - Official Website". epcrugby.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c BILL LEITH (2 February 1993). "Rugby Union: Stark's pace supplies crucial ingredient: Bill Leith on". The Independent.
  3. ^ "Ayr RFC". memim.com.
  4. ^ "Athletics Rugby and Ed Crozier". glasgowhawks.com.
  5. ^ "Gordon MacKay - Glasgow Accies Rugby Club". Glasgow Accies Rugby Club.
  6. ^ a b Peter Donald (26 April 2001). "Murrayfield victory is Stark choice for farewell". Telegraph.co.uk.
  7. ^ "Derek Stark on west coast rugby". scotsman.com.
  8. ^ "SCOTTISH CUP". Herald Scotland.
  9. ^ "Boroughmuir lift cup". theguardian.com.
  10. ^ a b "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  11. ^ "Underdog tag spurred on our Glasgow title team, says Derek Stark". scotsman.com.
  12. ^ "SRU face up to the stark reality". Herald Scotland.
  13. ^ "Shade is the only bright spot for Glasgow rugby". Herald Scotland.
  14. ^ "Derek Stark - Rugby Union - Players and Officials - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
  15. ^ TIM GLOVER in Edinburgh (16 January 1993). "Rugby Union / Five Nations' Championship: Watt power fuels Scots'". The Independent.
  16. ^ "FUNERAL FURY; Pub chiefs ignore rugby star's plea after brother's death". thefreelibrary.com.
  17. ^ Charlie Gall (16 June 2008). "Cash crisis for former Olympian Brian Whittle after Bill Clinton quits Aberdeen talk". dailyrecord.