Brian Hislop

Scottish Rugby is saddened to learn of the death at the weekend of a great stalwart of the Langholm club and Scotland age-grade scrum coach, Brian Hislop. He was 65.Hislop, a prop, who played for the Milntown club for around 20 years and won recognition from the South, was part of the Scotland B squad that played their French counterparts at Mayfield in Dundee in 1983 and then travelled to Albi in the south of France for the corresponding fixture in 1984.He worked on the family hill farm, Terrona, just outside Langholm and was blessed with the natural strength that came with his job. When he stepped down from playing, he went on to become an important figure in the mini/midi/youth coaching at the club.From 2002-2006, he brought his set-piece experience to national age-grade squads, working as a scrum coach.His son, Robin, followed him into the front-row and won age-grade honours for Scotland as well as playing professionally with Edinburgh Rugby, Rotherham and Doncaster.Kenneth Pool, chairman of Langholm RFC, said: “A big man and a great character, he was always willing to give good advice and help where he could at the club.A man of great humour, he will be much missed by his many friends at the club, in and around Langholm, the Borders and further afield.”Scottish Rugby extends its sincere sympathies to wife Francis, son Robin and daughters Catherine and Lisa.