Rory ready to make good impression at Hall of Fame gala dinner

Published 7 Sep 2010 15:21 0 Comments

SCOTTISH Rugby's inaugural Hall of Fame gala dinner at Murrayfield later this year will be a star-studded occasion.

Not only will some of the Scotland squad preparing to face New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa in the Autumn Tests be present to witness 12 of the all-time great Scottish rugby ambassadors be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but the after-dinner speaker (or should that be speakers) will keep guests richly entertained.

Edinburgh-born impressionist and satirist Rory Bremner is confirmed today as the guest speaker for the glittering occasion on Thursday 4 November.

Bremner said: "Scottish Rugby was a big part of my youth. From PC Brown, wiping his nose on his sleeve and nonchalantly blootering the ball over the bar for a kick to beat England at Twickenham, to the Mighty Mouse, Andy Irvine, David Sole and THAT Grand Slam victory, I've got many wonderful memories.

"Now I'm old, have a bad knee and am no longer available for selection, I'm delighted to renew my acquaintance with both Scotland and Scottish Rugby and can't wait for the inaugural Hall of Fame dinner."

Scottish Rugby Chief Executive Gordon McKie said: "We are delighted that Rory will be speaking at the inaugural Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame dinner. It promises to be a dazzling evening with rugby greats past and present in attendance.

"Rory has a great affinity with Scottish Rugby and it's fantastic that he will be on hand to bring some of his unique style to Murrayfield on the 4th of November."

Supporters of Scottish rugby are being given the chance to select one of the first inductees to the new Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame. In stage one of the public vote, supporters logged on to the Scottish Rugby website to choose the 1990s as the era from which a player would be selected.

The Hall of Fame Panel, which comprises five times British and Irish Lions coach, Sir Ian McGeechan, fellow British Lions and Scotland internationalists John Beattie, John Jeffrey and Chris Rea, and the doyen of Scottish rugby writers and former Scotland hooker, Norman Mair, has drawn-up a shortlist of outstanding Scots from the 90s and supporters can now select which one will enter the Hall of Fame.

Selection will be testing given the quality of candidates on the shortlist -

• Gary Armstrong, the indomitable scrum-half who won 51 caps for Scotland and led the country to the 1999 Five Nations Championship

• Gavin Hastings, who led Scotland to the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 1993 Lions tour to New Zealand, a massive physical presence at full-back

• Scott Hastings, the formidable 65-times-capped centre, who was a hero of the 1990 Grand Slam and also toured with the Lions

• Bryan Redpath, first capped against New Zealand in 1993, became the heartbeat of the team as livewire scrum-half

• David Sole, a leader par excellence, who set the tone for the 1990 Grand Slam decider against England with his famous walk on to the playing arena at Murrayfield.

• Alan Tait returned to union from league in the 1990s and proved himself a try scorer extraordinaire both for Scotland and for the victorious 1997 Lions in South Africa.

Panel member John Jeffrey said: "Scotland supporters the world over will have their own favourites and we are keen for them to have the opportunity to put forward an iconic figure for the Hall of Fame.

"It's already generated a lot of interest and is a fantastic way of recognising the outstanding contribution made by an individual to Scottish rugby."

The successful candidate will then join the other inductees selected by the panel to be announced and inducted at the inaugural Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at Murrayfield on Thursday 4 November. Master of ceremonies will be the renowned Scottish broadcaster Dougie Donnelly.

Everyone who casts a vote will be entered into a draw to the gala dinner where two places are available as the prize.

Voting is now open by following this link to the Scottish Rugby website http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/1981/197/ . Deadline for voting is Thursday, September 30.

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