Famous Five prove lucky mascots for Scotland

Among the 67,130 that led to Scottish Gas Murrayfield being lauded for the “best Six Nations atmosphere” were the “Famous Five”, who also know what it is to beat England.

And they did it not just once . . . but twice in the space of seven days.

Wind the clock back 55 years and on 20 March 1971, Scotland won at Twickenham for the first time in 33 years by the nail-biting margin of 16-15.

The result was crowned by a try from centre Chris Rea of West of Scotland and Headingley fame and a conversion by No 8 and captain, the late Peter Brown of Gala.

One week later, on 27 March 1971, in a fixture at Murrayfield to mark the 100^th anniversary of the first ever rugby international – staged at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh between Scotland and England – Scotland then posted a convincing 26-6 victory.

John Frame, the Gala centre, scored a try after just 13 seconds and Rea and his fellow British & Irish Lion, Billy Steele, the winger from London Scottish, who hailed originally from Langholm, were among second-half try scorers.

Last weekend, Rea, Frame and Steele were joined by lock forward Alastair McHarg and back-row forward, Rodger Arneil (Edinburgh Accies and Leicester), also a British & Irish Lion, as Scottish Rugby’s guests.

There are only seven survivors from that glorious 1971 double; Gala full-back Arthur Brown and West of Scotland hooker Quintin Dunlop were unable to attend.

Arneil said: “Scotland answered the many questions very well with a resounding win over the auld enemy  and it was a great chance to catch up with old friends.”

Frame noted: “I am writing primarily to thank you for inviting me to (such a) wonderful occasion. You certainly got your timing right”

Rea, a former rugby correspondent of The Scotsman and distinguished BBC radio and TV commentator, added: “I can only concur with John’s most eloquent words in thanking those responsible for honouring, and indeed remembering, the survivors from the side which created a wee bit of rugby history 55 years ago.”

Rea waxed lyrical about the performance of the Scotland team. “How PC Brown would have applauded it. It was an occasion and a day that none of us privileged to be there will forget, and my thanks to all who made it possible.”

Our picture shows (left to right): Billy Steele; Alastair McHarg; Rodger Arneil; John Frame; and Chris Rea.