By contrast, the Old Aloysians club was formed in 1955 for the sole purpose of undertaking a challenge match against the extremely successful Saint Aloysius' College 1st XV.

The unexpected success of this venture resulted in a decision to seek regular fixtures which led to a continuing upsurge in interest and the inevitable and rapid expansion of the F.P.

Richard Allan was selected as the club's first full internationalist for the Irish fixture at Murrayfield in 1969, to be followed by other distinguished players who gained representative honours.

Playing initially at the local authority's Overlee ground, years of tireless fund raising saw the club's new facility at Braidholm opened by S.R.U.

With three pitches, floodlights, 250 seater stand and expanded clubhouse, in recognition of its changing character and by a significant membership majority at the May 1995 A.G.M., the club altered its name to Glasgow Southern RFC.

Over several years a variety of players graduated through the Club participation from both youth and senior level to achieve representative status.

Additionally there is a long established veterans team (known as The Internationally Famous GHA Gazelles, captained by John Willock) who participate in a variety of social, friendly and touring matches.

In Premiership Three, with the arrival of a new coaching team and experienced ex-professionals Andrew Henderson and Hefin O'Hare GHA managed to finish second but due to league restructuring were denied promotion.

Within the newly regionalised third tier of 2012/13 the club achieved promotion by winning RBS Championship A thanks to a historic 23–0 final day, winner-takes-all match away to local rivals Cartha Queens Park.

After two consecutive third-place finishes in National League One; GHA were elevated to the Premiership for season 2019/20 due to the restructuring of Scottish club rugby.

However, three weeks later the 2019/20 season was declared null and void by the SRU due to the coronavirus pandemic, with no promotion or relegation between leagues.

Club rugby finally returned for the 2020-21 season; with an influx of new, young players helping GHA secure their highest ever league finish of 6th place.

This list does not include players who were allocated to play for GHA in the Scottish Rugby draft[4] whereby players from Scotland's full-time professional squads - Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby - are annually drafted by Scottish Premiership clubs to play for them on weekends when not selected for the professional teams.

During GHA's spell in the Premiership, current Scotland Internationals Johnnie Beattie[5] and John Barclay[6] were among those to be allocated to play for them.