1,2,3,4 – Freddy’s here and ready for more

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Scotland's Freddy Douglas (R) at full time with Scotland's previous youngest debutant Donald White during The Famous Grouse Nations Series match between Scotland and Portugal at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, on November 16, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)

Delight because another young, talented Scot was entering the international fray, but delight also because it represented something of an historic occasion.

The former Stewart’s Melville youngster, just 19, became Scotland’s youngest male cap in 61 years, taking the mantle from one Donald White, a centre out of Kelvinside Academy and Glenalmond College and who won a Varsity Blue for Oxford University.

Ahead of The Famous Grouse Nations Series game between Scotland and Portugal, Scottish Rugby got in touch with Donald and his wife, Nora, to see if they would like to come along to watch and perhaps meet Edinburgh Rugby’s young flanker Freddy as he prepared to make an international bow.

Generation game: Freddy and Donald in conversation at the end of the Scotland v Portugal match

It was 12 January 1963 when a fresh-faced Donald made the trip to Colombes, northern Paris, for a Five Nations baptism of fire against a France side who were defending a crown they had won the year previous.

Lining up in a side containing such Scottish luminaries as Ken Scotland, John Douglas, Mike Campbell-Lamerton and David Rollo – British & Irish Lions all – White was part of a side who won 11-6 to great acclaim, with winger Ronnie Thomson scoring a try and full-back Scotland landing a conversion, penalty and a drop goal to boot.

Casting his mind back to that special day, White said: “Amazing. January ’63. Paris. The ground was frozen, the temperature was -15, there was about a foot of straw on the pitch so they set fire to it about half an hour before we played – and the French didn’t want to play!

“But the Scots won. Ronnie Thomson scored a wonderful try, and it was just an amazing event, unforgettable.”

For Donald to be in attendance for Scotland’s 59-21 win over Portugal last weekend, and to see Freddy Douglas become the youngest male cap since his own Colombes debut, he quipped: “It’s about time that record was broken! I’m glad he has – I think there were only three or four teenagers who got a cap since the war – I think Gregor Townsend was one and now Freddy.

“So I’m in exalted company – but I didn’t have as good a record as the previous ones. Freddy looks like he’ll go a long way, he played well for his 15 minutes – Gregor should have had him on before!”

From cap number 715 to number 1234, and Freddy Douglas. Debuting alongside Alex Samuel and Ben Muncaster, the flanker spoke about what the occasion and experience meant to him: “Really buzzing, it’s a dream come true, especially playing at Murrayfield, to play in front of so many people it’s absolutely amazing. I’m over the moon to be honest; it doesn’t feel real.”

Fresh-faced: Freddy got a first outing for Scotland and became cap number 1234

Having featured in the Scottish Schools Cup Final for Stewart’s Melville against Merchiston in 2022, Freddy would be forgiven for taking time to find his feet in the full international set-up but as he proved when coming onto the field on Saturday, the environment into which he was pitched has been nothing short excellent, as he explained: “Obviously coming into camp I was nervous and not sure how I’d do, but everyone was just so nice, always available if I ever wanted a chat and they really made me feel a part of the team.

On his debut minutes, Freddy said in the post-match press conference: “I remember going on, hugging Benny [Muncaster], that felt amazing and the big thing I remember is just the anthem, singing in front of so many people. It felt amazing and I got quite emotional during it and it’s something I’ll never, ever forget.

“It’s amazing that I’ve managed to get to this opportunity but I don’t think age is really what matters. If you’re good enough you’re old enough. Meeting Donald was amazing, he was lovely, a wee bit cheeky but really nice and class to see him.”

On the differences between what he’s been used to before, namely World Rugby Junior Trophy games in the summer gone, he added: “It’s a big step up. You do feel like when you’re on the pitch, you’re just running about all over the place, it’s a lot quicker, a lot more physical.

“I thought we attacked quite well [in beating Portugal], there were a few sloppy passages, a bit of looseness but overall I think we should be really, really happy with that performance.

“We head back into camp now and prep for that big game against Australia and the Scotland ‘A’ game against Chile [in which Freddy was named part of the starting XV]. Do our homework, do our analysis and go straight for it.”

Cap number 1234. Freddy has a calmness about him that belies not only his years but the ferocious competitor that lies within. We’ll be seeing plenty more of this young talent over the coming years, a man who has taken over Donald White’s mantle with aplomb as the youngest Scotland cap for as long as anyone can remember.