Hundreds Cheer Scotland At Open Training Session

Scotland’s rugby players were given another very public reminder today of the ties between New Zealand and our homeland.  An open public training session in the city of Lower Hutt, just outside Wellington, attracted more than 500 enthusiastic people in spite of the persistent drizzle. With the civic head, Mayor Ray Wallace, resplendent in his clan tartan and the City of Wellington pipe band leading the way, the supporters watched a team training session, mingled with the players as they got involved in a skills practice with youngsters from Hutt Old Boys Marist RFC and then spent about 45 minutes signing autographs and posing for photographs.    This followed the visit of six members of the party to Christchurch yesterday where a cheque for NZ$85,000 was presented to the Earthquake Mayoral Relief fund, proceeds from the farewell dinner organised by the Hearts and Balls charity prior to the squad’s departure for Rugby World Cup from Glasgow last month. At Lower Hutt today there were some familiar faces in the crowd. Martin Leslie, hero of the 1999 Five Nations Championship winning side was there with his son, while Marty’s dad, the great All Black flanker and captain Andy Leslie, pitched up too. Loretta Hastie, originally from Kelso, widow of the late Ian Hastie, a Scotland cap in the 1950s, was there with her family; while Jim Longstaff, father of Scotland wing Shaun, was among the autograph hunters. The Scotland squad enjoyed the occasion. Yesterday, they had trained at a historic venue – Basin Reserve in Wellington city centre, where New Zealand played their first cricket Test match in 1930 – that had five Saltires proudly flying; and today there was much evidence of support whether through Scotland jerseys, Saltires, See you Jimmy hats or Lions Rampant. Four players took no part in today’s training: Euan Murray was at church while Rory Lamont (tight Achilles), Graeme Morrison (minor knee strain) and Scott Lawson (improving calf strain) all rested, though none is said to be a concern for the third Pool B match against Argentina next Sunday (25 September) at the Wellington Regional Stadium. You can hear the reaction of three of the squad to today’s activities – Richie Vernon, Alasdair Dickinson and Moray Low – below. And you can also catch how pleased the local community were to welcome the squad in an interview with Lower Hutt Mayor Wallace.