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!