Obituary Archives

16 Oct 2025 - Obituary

Obituary: Hugh Penman

Hugh passed away on Friday 3 October having given a lifetime of service to the game, firstly as a talented full-back, renowned for his goal-kicking accuracy, and then as an administrator, whose quiet influence extended to the sport’s ultimate corridors of power. Hugh was a product of Edinburgh’s famous Royal High School side, under the […]

25 Sep 2025 - Obituary

Obituary: Gordon Alston

Gordon joined Scottish Rugby as an administrative assistant in 1990 and initially worked across a number of areas including heritage, publications, player kit distribution and the shop at Murrayfield Stadium. When the game turned professional in 1995, Gordon’s responsibilities extended to player welfare, providing support and guidance to the first cohort of full-time professional players. […]

13 Aug 2025 - Obituary

Obituary: David Milne

In Scottish rugby folklore, David was a pivotal member of the three bears. Alongside his brothers, Iain (older) and Kenny (younger), he was on the left of a truly formidable front-row that will forever be part of the rich history of Heriot’s rugby club. While Iain and Kenny were both Scotland internationalists, Iain going on […]

13 Aug 2025 - Obituary

Obituary: Gordon Connell

Connell, Trinity Accies first and, thus far, only Scotland internationalist, won five caps for the national team between 1968 and 1970. He marked his debut against England at Murrayfield in March 1968 with one of the most quick-witted drop-goals the stadium had ever witnessed. Bill McMurtrie, writing in the Glasgow Herald, said: “Well-controlled rucking made […]

10 May 2025 - Obituary

Obituary: Graham Dall

Dall was an immensely gifted flanker and a proven and charismatic leader. He was part of a great Heriot’s and Edinburgh rugby family. His dad, Fraser, was the stand-off in Heriot’s championship winning team in 1978-79, having won a Scotland B cap against France in 1973, while his younger brother Andrew was capped against Wales […]

13 Jan 2025 - Obituary

Obituary: Peter Brown

Known as PC, Brown was an utterly irrepressible character, who did things his way, invariably with a smile on his face. These days, he might be labelled a “maverick”, but that would be a gross over-simplification. He gave so much to the game he loved and for him, life and rugby were there to be […]

8 Jan 2025 - Obituary

Obituary: John Douglas

Born in Woolwich on 18 December 1934, Douglas (Stewart’s College FP) played all but one of his 12 caps at No 8 – the exception was against England at Twickenham in 1961 where he lined up in his habitual club position of second-row. His international career spanned three years, 1961-1963, during which Scotland won six […]

28 Oct 2024 - Obituary

Obituary: Ken Macaulay

Ken was awarded a retrospective Scotland cap in February after a lifetime of service to the game. “Ken was a big man, with an out-going personality. His passion for rugby knew no bounds,” declared Scottish Rugby President, Colin Rigby this afternoon. “He took immense pride in being awarded a Scotland cap and was determined to […]

12 Nov 2024 - Obituary

OBITUARY: Derrick Grant

Grant was part of the “ultimate rugby think-tank”, a quiet and humble man, ahead of his time in his ability to analyse a game and get the best out of his charges. “He was as hard as nails on the pitch,” recalled his fellow Scotland and British & Irish Lions representative, Andy Irvine, “but Derrick […]

7 Oct 2024 - Obituary

Obituary: Ronnie Glasgow

Ronald James Cunningham Glasgow won ten caps for Scotland between 1962 and 1965. He was 31 when he made his international debut against France at Murrayfield in 1962, but it was his display in his second cap, against Wales in Cardiff three weeks later, that cemented his place in Scottish Rugby folklore. Pictured: The Scotland […]