Great Scot Archive
Issues from 1998
Issues from 1998
 
 
 
 

Publications

75th Anniversary of Rugby

Words: Ian Cairns (1942–1950)

Ian Cairns/Paul McConnochie

Ian Cairns (’50) and Paul McConnochie

On 11 August we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first rugby match between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School, which was the birth of Junior Rugby in Victoria. Since that time the services, and in particular, the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC) have played a significant part in Australian rugby.

At the luncheon on 11 August I had the privilege to be seated with P J F McDonnell, Captain of the Scotch 1st XV in 1946, when we defeated the RANC 1st XV. Also at the same table were Bruce Wilson and David Shave, who played with me in the Scotch 1st XV in 1950 when I was Captain and we played the RANC 1st XV on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. David Martin was Captain of the RANC XV, he later became a Rear Admiral and Governor of NSW. The match was a close fought one, with the RANC scoring a corner try in the dying moments of the game. (David Martin’s father and my father were contemporaries at the RANC and throughout their naval career).

At this anniversary match, I thought it was an appropriate occasion to show my father’s RANC cap to the present players.

Being capped in a sport in the navy was similar to being awarded your colours at Scotch. My father was capped for rugby and athletics at the RANC at Jervis Bay in 1917 and 1918.

It was with pleasure I presented this RANC cap, to the Paul McConnochie the 2007 Captain of the Scotch XV, for the Scotch Archives, as a token of the Scotch/RANC rugby history.

Congratulation to the Scotch and Melbourne Grammar players who showed good sportsmanship in a close game, Scotch winning 18–12.

Updated: Monday 24 June 2013