Ken Macaulay cup contested for first time

This week’s fixture between East Lothian and the Co-optimists, staged at Recreation Park, North Berwick, saw the renowned invitation team win 45-36.

It’s a match that has been played since 1924 and was a particularly poignant occasion for the family of a man inextricably linked to both teams, Ken Macaulay.

Macaulay, a former Scotland lock forward, was awarded a retrospective cap in February 2024 for a game against a French Select XV in 1980.

On the back of being presented with his retrospective cap, earning his unique Scotland cap number of 1215, he decided to give back to the sport that he loved and undertook an incredible 1000-mile cycling challenge.

Formidable pedal power saw Ken visit all 76 clubs across Scotland that he had played against or visited throughout his career, in the name of raising funds for four charities: the Murrayfield Injured Players’ Foundation, Prostate Scotland; Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland; and The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Ken very sadly passed away, at the age of 67, shortly after completing his challenge, in October 2024.

Ken played for the Co-optimists throughout the 1980s, including on a tour of Zimbabwe and in the Carwyn James memorial match in Llanelli – to celebrate the life of the coach of the 1971 triumphant British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

When Ken, who had earlier played for Gala and Heriot’s, moved to East Lothian in 1994, he became a talismanic figure on and off the field at North Berwick rugby club, and played for East Lothian against the Co-optimists on a number of occasions.  He also became the Co-ops’ honorary secretary after he had hung up his boots.

Ken’s widow, Pat, and daughter Joanna, were delighted to create and present a trophy to honour his contribution to the game.

Pat said: “Ken was a huge character in the rugby community.  We wanted to ensure his memory lives on by providing this trophy and would like to extend our thanks to the Co-optimists in bestowing this honour.”

In addition to the trophy, fund-raising also took place at the game for the Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.

The Co-ops scores came from tries by Callum Paterson (Corstorphine Cougars), 3; his club mater Rueben Greene; Johnnie McMillan (Murrayfield Wands), Harry Hitchens (Heriot’s) and Dean Kinghorn (Livingston).  Jay McGuffie (Corstorphine Cougars) landed four conversions and Callum Elliot (Heriot’s) one.

East Lothian’s points came from try braces from Paul Bogie and his Musselburgh team-mate Robbie Reid;  and individual scores from Louis Sinclair (North Berwick) and Blair Buchan (Ross High). Reid added three conversions.

The match was refereed by Ken’s former Gala team-mate David Changleng, with twin brother Malcolm, another team-mate running the line.

The Ken Macaulay Cup, once engraved, will be on display at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium.