Rugby: Gala, Melrose, Hawick, Peebles and Jed-Forest players to be honoured with retrospective Scotland caps
Last updated 15th Aug 2023
Scottish Rugby is to retrospectively honour more than 50 players who represented their country in matches that, at the time, did not carry Test cap status.
Among those being recognised is former Gala player Mark Moncrieff, who played for the Scotland XV which defeated the USA in Connecticut in 1991, and Rob Moffat, of Melrose, who played for the national side in a victory over Japan in Tokyo in 1977.
Other players to be honoured include Kelso's Garry Waite, Ronnie Kirkpatrick of Jed-Forest, and Peebles' Steve Ferguson.
The decision, made by the Scottish Rugby Union Custodian Board, was announced today (Tuesday) by President Colin Rigby. He said: “Those individuals who wore the thistle with pride and distinction, whether in Services or Victory internationals during and after the Second World War, or who played under the label of a ‘Scotland XV’ against other nations, will now join the fabled ranks of the 1,140 other men to have been capped by Scotland since 1871.
“Given this year marks the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Union, we wanted to look afresh at our history and recognise the rich and enduring contribution those players have made to our game.
“Awarding a cap retrospectively may seem purely symbolic or belated by some people, but I know from conversations with some of those players and their families what this decision will mean to them and that granting cap status will be cherished.”
READ MORE: Watsonians 'hugely disappointed not to be invited to compete at Gala Sevens'
Similar moves are planned to honour all players to have represented Scotland Women, as well as the country's international referees.
The President added: “Our plan is to reach out to the relatives of those sadly no longer with us and conduct a cap presentation for those from the Services and Victory international matches in tandem with our annual poignant service of remembrance at the war memorial at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Armistice Day in November.
“Therefore, we welcome contact from any relatives of those players from the 1940s, so we can begin to plan for that ceremony.
“Thereafter, we will look to award caps during our home matches in next year’s GUINNESS Six Nations Championship.”
The full list of those players to be awarded retrospective caps is:
1942, Services Rugby - Scotland 21 England 6, 21 March, Inverleith: Lt A W B Buchanan (London Scottish); Cadet M R Dewar (Watsonians); Cadet E C K Douglas (Edinburgh University); Lt S G A Harper (Watsonians); Flt Lt E C Hunter (Watsonians); Corporal J Maltman (Hawick); Lt N W Ramsay (Army).
1942, Services Rugby - England 5 Scotland 8, 11 April, Wembley: Captain J B McNeil (Glasgow HSFP); Cadet D A Roberts (Edinburgh Accies).
1943, Services Rugby - Scotland 6 England 29, 27 February, Inverleith: Lt J M Blair (Edinburgh Accies/Oxford University); Corporal R Cowe (Melrose); Lt C McLay (Edinburgh Accies).
1943, Services Rugby - England 24 Scotland 19, 10 April, Leicester: Captain W B Biggart (Army/Glasgow Accies); Flt Officer E Grant (Royal NZ Air Force); Lt M D Kennedy (Army).
1944, Services Rugby - Scotland 13 England 23, 26 February, Murrayfield: Cadet Rating A E Murray (Oxford University).
1944, Services Rugby - England 27 Scotland 15, 18 March, Leicester: Company Sergeant Major J R McLure (Ayr/Wasps); Captain H G Uren (Glasgow Accies).
1945, Services Rugby - England 11 Scotland 18, 24 February, Leicester: Flt Officer A L Barcroft (Heriot’s); Captain J R Henderson (Glasgow Accies); Flt Officer D D McKenzie (RAF and Merchistonians); Private R M McKenzie (New Zealand); Sq Ldr J B Nicholls (NSW and Royal Australian Air Force); Captain J A D Thom (Hawick); Sub Lt C Wilhelm (South African Services).
1945, Services Rugby - Scotland 5 England 16, 17 March, Murrayfield: Lt E A Melling (Army and Sedbergh).
1946, Victory International - Scotland 11 New Zealand Army 6: J Anderson (London Scottish); J Kirk (Edinburgh Accies/Wands).
1946, Victory International - England 12 Scotland 8, 16 March, Twickenham: K S H Wilson (London Scottish).
1969, Argentina 20 Scotland XV 3, 13 September, Buenos Aires: Ian Murchie (West of Scotland); Arthur Orr (London Scottish).
1969, Argentina 3 Scotland XV 6, 27 September, Buenos Aires: Bruce Laidlaw (Royal HSFP)
1976, Scotland XV 34 Japan 9, 25 September, Murrayfield: David Ashton (Ayr); Jim Carswell (Jordanhill).
1977, Japan 9 Scotland XV 74, 18 September, Tokyo: Colin Mair (West of Scotland); Rob Moffat (Melrose).
1986, Spain 17 Scotland XV 39, 1 May, Cornella, Barcelona: Stuart Johnston (Watsonians); Garry Waite (Kelso).
1987, Scotland XV 15 France XV 12, 26 September, Netherdale: Tim Exeter (Moseley); Jeremy Macklin (London Scottish); Ian Ramsey (Melrose).
1988, Zimbabwe 10 Scotland XV 31, 21 May, Bulawayo: David Butcher (Harlequins); Ruari Maclean (Gloucester); Stewart McAslan (Heriot’s); Kevin Rafferty (Heriot’s); Hugh Parker (Kilmarnock).
1989, Japan 28 Scotland XV 24, 28 May, Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo: Grant Wilson (Boroughmuir).
1991, USA 12 Scotland XV 41, 18 May, Hartford, Connecticut: Mark Moncrieff (Gala).
1991, Canada 24 Scotland XV 19, 25 May, Saint John, New Brunswick: Ronnie Kirkpatrick (Jed-Forest).
1993, Fiji 10 Scotland XV 21, 29 May, Commonwealth Stadium, Suva: Ally Donaldson (Currie); Steve Ferguson (Peebles); Nick Grecian (London Scottish); Gary Isaac (Gala); Robb Scott (London Scottish).
1993, Tonga 5 Scotland XV 23, 5 June, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa: Craig Redpath (Melrose).
1998, Rugby World Cup qualifier - Scotland XV 85 Spain 3, 5 December 1998, Murrayfield: Willie Anderson (Glasgow Caledonians/Kirkcaldy).
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