​History repeated itself with the GROGS curse striking again in March when the scheduled speaker, John Mathers, had to withdraw because of a family bereavement. However, the Committee performed the “rabbit out of a hat” trick again and found a very popular replacement guest speaker in Chris Fusaro, the Scotland and Glasgow Warriors flanker.  Chris gave a refreshingly honest and interesting account of his own rugby career and a diplomatically expressed view of the current state of Scottish rugby and some of the main characters in both the playing and administrative sectors.  He described himself as being from a 2nd. generation Italian family arriving in Scotland in 1949 and later settling in Cupar in Fife.  This was fortunate for the future rugby star who started his 24 year playing career in mini rugby with Howe of Fife.  He tried to make out that he was no better at passing or catching a ball at the end of his career than he had been at the beginning but no-one believed him.  Chris talked about the importance of mini rugby in his own career and in rugby overall.  He praised the human qualities that rugby fosters using Doddie Weir as an example of someone continuing with good work in the face of adversity. He loved his rugby from the very start and didn’t experience any of the strict coaching discipline he’d heard about  -  until 2012, coincidentally the year Gregor Townsend took over as coach at Warriors.  He enjoyed a very successful career there making many good friends and harvesting many happy memories.  He remembered Warriors turning the corner in 2011 by winning ugly, and creating “Fortress Firhill”.  They beat the mighty Leinster at the RDS stadium but lost to Treviso at home the following week. The combination of discipline and teamwork paid off when Warriors won the Pro 12 Cup in 2015.  Chris was honest and modest in equal measures when he described his professional career and some of the coaches he had played under.  Here, Dave Rennie got an honourable mention.  There was a dark phase in his career towards the end but the sun shone through and he remained a Warrior throughout.  He is now retired, a family man, working in the family business and a part time coach.  He has a treasure chest full of memories, friendships, experiences and, as GROGS could see, a modest appreciation of what Rugby has given him, not the least being the bottle of GROGS whisky which first time Chairman Neil Watson presented him with!

​David Johnston had been heralded as an interesting and insightful speaker and the GROGs were not disappointed.  Outlining the 4 subjects he would cover   -   football, playing and coaching rugby and (possibly the most intriguing) the historic rugby governance in Scotland David promised  “shameless name dropping” starting with Gavin Hastings then Gordon Strachan and Jimmy Johnstone, whom he had played against in his Hearts days, and many others.   We had a whistle-stop tour of his career from playing rugby at school, captaining the Scottish Schoolboys team, his brief career with Hearts F.C. ending with a serious leg injury, before returning to rugby with Watsonians.  The “Flying Ashtray”, as sports writer, Brian Meek, dubbed him, was home and his stellar career was about to start.  From Watsonians to Edinburgh District and other representative sides and finally to his international debut against the All Blacks in November 1979, David gave an interesting description of highlights and memories of his halcyon rugby playing career before another injury forced a premature end.  Still, 27 caps, a 1984 Grand Slam winning achievement and the best ever Scottish result against the All Blacks are not too bad highlights to look back on.  Thankfully, his rugby career was not finished as he took up a fruitful coaching partnership travelling the rugby world with Richie Dixon, including the 1996 Jim Telfer “dry tour” of New Zealand (sponsored by The Famous Grouse) and the unsuccessful Grand Slam decider against England at the beginning of the professional era, the ‘Wild West time’ as David described, until parting company with the SRU in 1998.  That led to him falling out of love with the playing side of rugby although he remained involved with the sport because of the continuing nonsense going on at Murrayfield.  He described 3 types of committee members  -  incompetent enthusiasts, honest soldiers and highly political animals.  In his opinion, the latter ruled the Murrayfield roost.  David could think of only a few of the hierarchy who had advanced Scottish rugby more than their own standing and vested interests.  The GROGs smelled blood!  The lawyer in David chose careful words when describing a former SRU CEO in terms that were not glowing especially when mentioning a supposed “sweetie jar”, the Keith Russell affair and the introduction of the Super Six.  Though he saw the past of Scottish rugby as bleak, he sees some brightness in the future. David cleverly fielded some astute questions before being asked to take ownership of a bottle of Famous Grogs whisky and our sincere thanks.

After a very successful Christmas Lunch, it was back to rugby for the start of a new year when GROGS turned up in record numbers for the January meeting to welcome Keith Wallace, the newly elected President of the Scottish Rugby Union.  As the Chairman said, it was a great relief to actually see Keith in person given the run of bad luck with cancellations we’ve had in recent times.  A major problem, Keith explained, in rugby today is the unavailability or unwillingness to make a season long commitment to playing, thus the necessity of having larger player pools.  He contrasted the average number of players in the Heriots pool when Andy Irvine’s team won the Division 1 title in 1978/79 was 17 compared to an average now of 46.  48 players in the Heriots pool have already been used in the 13 games played so far this season.  Changed times and startling figures!  Back in the day, he said, 100 club players would mean 5 teams could be fielded.  Now, such a number might only field 3 teams.  The days of the social players seem to be over.  With some it would seem to be the case that if they can't get into the first XV then they don’t want to play.  This and rising financial demands are 2 of the main causes of concern in maintaining an active interest in rugby at grass roots level.  Money is being ploughed into the game to try and encourage a resurgence of interest and not only at the elite level.  Women’s rugby, walking rugby and other forms are being encouraged by the SRU.  Keith feels that women’s rugby has already been the salvation of some clubs.   Although the sport is hurting at the moment, the Men’s and Women’s International teams, the under 20’s and the 2 Professional Teams are doing well at the moment and, in his own experience, many rugby clubs themselves are thriving so we shouldn’t be discouraged.  Before concluding with a toast to The Game of Rugby Football, Keith exhorted those present to support their clubs and to encourage others to do the same.  Surprisingly, there weren’t many questions but those that were asked were dealt with openly and extensively, including one about the position of the SRU regarding current and future head injury claims.  The Chairman wished the President well in his tenure and thanked him with a gift of a bottle of Special GROGS Whisky.

There was considerable disappointment when it was learned that the planned guest speaker, Baroness Ruth Davidson, had to withdraw as a result of a 3 line whip being imposed to discuss important Government business.  However, there was not one single cancellation as a result and an all time record number of GROGS attended the  Festive Extravaganza. Any disappointment was considerably assuaged when the Committee announced that, once again, it had managed to save the day by persuading the popular BBC weather presenter, Judith Ralston, to step in at incredibly short notice.  Judith had worked with the Baroness in their early days with BBC radio and considered it an honour to fill in for her.  Because of work commitments, Judith was forced to arrive fashionably late, to a welcome which was as loud and cheerful as it was warm.  Without intending to use a weather pun, it’s fair to say that she seemed completely blown away by it.  Whether this was solely down to her own popularity or because it brought the Chairman’s warm up act to an end, we’ll never really know.  Judith was a joy as a guest.  She brought a lovely smile to the Top Table and participated fully in all the nonsense that has become a staple part of the GROGS Christmas Lunch.  The only disappointment was that we didn’t get to hear her operatically trained voice rising above the cacophony of the efforts of the GROGs to sing both in tune and in unison.  The anguished look on Judith’s face when we monumentally failed on both grounds was a sight to see.  We were then treated to a cheerful account of Judith’s life and career.  There were moments of sadness when she recounted how she had achieved her childhood dream of becoming an opera singer then to have it dashed when suffering from irreparable damage to her vocal chords.  However, the voice fairy took pity on her and her speaking voice became the entrée to a career in radio from where she embarked on her current career as ‘Judith the Weather’ as the Chairman, Hugh Dan MacLennan, described her.  She didn’t need to explain that she loved her work.  This was evident. Her talk was peppered with nice little stories about her family, events in her career and the fun she has with her working colleagues, many of whom are well known celebrities in the broadcasting business.  Although she had confessed to not being a fan of whisky, Judith accepted with alacrity the special bottle of GROGS whisky offered to her with our grateful thanks.  This delightful lady will be welcome back to GROGS anytime!

​GROGS Lunches seem to becoming more and more popular as, once again, a record number of members gathered to hear a well-known character in West of Scotland rugby  -  Tony Peters, President of Marr Rugby Club.  When introduced by Chairman, Johnston Sime, we were told that Tony’s nickname was “Motors”, because of the business he was involved in.  Tony didn’t let us down although those who came along to perhaps learn why Marr is not doing so well this year or what the residents of Troon think about the goings-on in the denizens of Murrayfield were about to be disappointed.  On the other hand, those who came to hear Tony the stand-up comedian would have been delighted, as would most of the rest who might not have known what to expect.  His skill as a speaker was obvious from the start and his experience with a rugby orientated audience was equally obvious throughout.  Tony started off pretending that he had applied for an AI generated speech, which was clearly not the case.  This was all his own work!  He then gave the best advert for shopping at Asda that anyone listening would ever have heard before going on to deliver a series of one liners our only previous stand-up comedian speaker, Andy Cameron, would have been proud of.  Tony did mention rugby when he described the perilous position Marr finds itself in, standing in 10th place in a 13 team Premier League from which 3 teams will be relegated this year.  It was obvious he was hurting!  He also mentioned his own limited experience in the playing side of the game, a bitter disappointment to his father, a Welsh rugby fanatic.  Then on with the one-liners, particularly targeting some of the GROGs present.  He had obviously done his homework as all his targets were on the mark, perhaps with one exception towards the end!   Tony’s final story involved a punch line of “mind your own business” but the Chairman’s last piece of business was to express much appreciation and to award him with a well earned bottle of Famous GROGS Whisky.  

GROGS Chairman, Fergus Neil, welcomed 2 special guests to the first Lunch of the 2024-25 season.  As well as Tommy Seymour, the well known and popular Scotland and Glasgow Warriors winger, we were treated to an appearance of the United Rugby Championship (URC) Cup which was lugged all the way from Scotstoun by Cameron MacAllister, Communications Manager  of Glasgow Warriors. The enormous trophy mirrored the achievement by Glasgow Warriors who had won it against the odds in Pretoria in June by beating the SA Bulls.  Although a popular presence (evidenced by the number of GROGS who wanted their photograph with it) it took second place in popularity to Tommy Seymour. Tommy had indicated his preference for a Q & A session rather than a scripted speech from himself and, so, step forward GROGS stalwart and Committee member, the urbane broadcaster Hugh Dan MacLennan, an old hand at this format who can put guests at their ease whilst not missing the jugular with some forensic questioning!  The atmosphere was very light hearted with Hugh Dan pointing out a couple of the Chairman’s faux pas before engaging in one or two himself.  Thanks to some well constructed questions Tommy gave an interesting resume of his life from his birth in Nashville, Tennessee, to his current position as a sponsorship manager with the SRU via Ulster, Glasgow and International rugby.  Here was a modest and unassuming man with a clear and articulate insight into rugby.  When asked who was the best player he had played with he was generous in his response by spreading the accolade over 3 players  -  Niko Matawalu, Leone Nakarawa and a young Finn Russell.  The old Finn Russell must be curious!  Tommy was not so easily drawn on his opinion about referee Craig Joubert, the bête noir of Scottish rugby fans, saying that he had no feelings about him as a human being!   Tommy was a class act confidently handling all the questions put to him by Hugh Dan and enthusiasts from the floor …. except one!  When asked if he had been allowed to keep the ball after scoring a hat trick against Fiji in 2017, he said he liked the idea but simply couldn’t remember!  As much as anyone before him, Tommy earned the appreciation of GROGS and the special bottle of whisky he was presented with!

​For the third month running the GROGS Committee had to go to the substitutes bench for a replacement after the original guest speaker was forced to call off and for the third month running a super sub emerged!  Stepping forward at quite short notice came Heather Dewar, a much respected sports journalist and broadcaster, whose special interest in sport is rugby, something she had in common with everyone else present at this, the final lunch of the very successful 2023/24 GROGS season.  This was also the AGM of the GROGS which Chairman, Fergus Neil, conducted with his usual aplomb.  He outlined the success of the year, with an average monthly attendance of well over 100, and obtained approval of the Committee’s proposed charitable donations.  It was clear from the beginning that Heather was no stranger to the microphone.  She spoke easily about her life and career that had recently culminated in her being voted both the Journalist and Sports News Writer of the Year.  Here was a very interesting lady who spoke about her whole life’s experience in detail, from her early childhood in Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong 7’s instilled in her a passion for the game.  Confessing that John Jeffrey was a hero of hers in those days she hinted that he lost that status as an administrator.  She was heavily involved in other sports which stood her in good stead in her future career as a sports commentator.  She travelled a lot, studied a lot and worked a lot in a succession of different jobs but never far away from journalism   Heather spoke with remarkable honesty about the ups and downs in her life including some of her darker moments but her optimism, determination and positivity were obvious.  Covid put brakes on her broadcasting career but before long she was offered a sports journalist position with the Daily Mail.  In Heather’s own words “the rest is history”!  She referred briefly to her coverage of the MCC and Scottish Cricket scandals but ended with Scottish rugby and the SRU.  Clearly not a fan of the outgoing Chief Executive and his unwillingness to accept certain responsibilities she has, nevertheless, faith in the future of Scottish Rugby, with the caveat that the right person is appointed as the new CEO.  As one GROG remarked, a “tour de force” with which to end an outstanding season. 

There was a sense of déjà view when 117 members gathered for the penultimate Lunch of the year. Gavin Scott had been forced to withdraw because of an urgent SRU commitment and the Committee found itself once again having to pull a rabbit out of the hat at short notice. Duncan Weir, the popular Scottish international and Glasgow Warrior fly half stepped into the breech without, in his own words, quite knowing what he was letting himself in for!  In the event, it was a triumph for both parties.  The assembled GROGs loved the easy style in which this “Cambuslang boy” described his rugby journey and Duncan (or Dunky as the Chairman insisted on calling him) seemed to enjoy being there.  Duncan started his rugby career with Cambuslang RFC at the age of 7, where he had the “best first experience” of rugby he could have wished for.  He ended up playing for the 1st. XV but a serious knee injury (gruesomely described) put an end to his Cambuslang career.  This start to his rugby life laid the foundations of the rugby ethos and special bonds which are still very much part of his life.  He started playing again with Glasgow Hawks and Scotland representative teams.  When he moved to Glasgow Warriors as a professional, Duncan had feared nothing, not even Ronan O’Gara, whose social graces he didn’t rate highly, and he wishes he could be as cavalier now as he was back then!  We admired the honesty of his ‘hero to zero’ story when he recounted his match winning drop kick against Italy in 2014 and his hash of a pass against France the following week.  He now preaches consistency.  We heard of “special coach” Vern Cotter’s severe training methods, including freezing in the Pyrenees and killing rabbits for food.  All very entertaining!  Duncan described his time at Edinburgh when he was an “angry wee man” as not being a happy time but when he transferred to Worcester everything settled for him again.  We got an honest insight into the dark time he experienced when he returned to Warriors and needed the help of a sports psychologist and we were pleased to hear that all is well again.  Duncan Weir was one of our most popular speakers who gave of himself in an honest, informative and entertaining way and who more than deserved our thanks and a bottle of Special GROGS Whisky.

There was an almost tangible sense of disappointment when the Valentine’s Day date of choice, Gavin Vaughan, was forced to pull out as guest speaker due to a priority demand for his presence on international team duty.  Many of the 100+ GROGs in attendance had relished the opportunity of hearing an expert’s view on the infamous “grounding” controversy from the recent Scotland v France match.  However, all was not lost as the Chairman, Hugh Dan McLennan, had a super sub ready on the bench.  Paul Mitchell, a well known BBC sports commentator, accepted Hugh Dan’s invitation, to come and save the day with less than 24 hours notice.  What a save it was!  Here was the consummate professional who entertained his audience with humour, tales of personal experiences, facts, figures and sporting observations.   He is a former scrum half and now an experienced rugby commentator.  It doesn’t stop there either as he’s also a skilled commentator on a number of other sports including football, ice hockey, horse racing, rowing, golf and American football inter alia and is about to add basketball to his impressive list..  As he inferred himself, is there nothing this man won’t do for money?  He even confessed to being a complete banker having  passed his banking exams when he had a proper job!   In talking about his life, career and interests, Paul was interesting, educational, thought provoking and humorous in equal measures.  He might be the only person who played rugby, then took up commentating before becoming a qualified referee because he felt he needed to understand rugby better.  It was a novel concept  -  a referee who understands the game!  Paul explained he doesn’t get much chance to apply his skills nowadays and claimed to be the worst referee in Scotland challenged, perhaps, by one in a (very) recent International at Murrayfield!  His audience growled in agreement.  He posed a question about where the game of rugby is going with all the technology in place now.  If there is a problem, might it not lie with the technicians rather than the technology? Paul ended on a light note, having a go at Whitecraigs RFC which even some of the Whitecraigs stalwarts laughed at.  If there was ever a speaker who deserved a bottle of Special GROGS Whisky, it is Paul Mitchell.  A more generous club would have given him 2 bottles!