The Five Nations’ Trophy, won by Scotland just last month, will go on show in Aberdeen for the first time this weekend in memory of a stalwart of the University of Aberdeen Rugby Club.
The Scottish Rugby Union will release the coveted trophy for a special ‘Old Boys’ game, which is being held in memory of George Watson, former President of the Aberdeen University Rugby Football Club (AURFC), who died suddenly in January.
The AURFC First XV will take on the AURFC Old Boys XV for the match at King’s playing field on Saturday, May 8. Open to the public, it will be attended by hundreds of former members of the University rugby team, current club members, and friends and family of Mr Watson. Three Scottish internationals are expected to attend the game, as are Steele Bodger CBE, who was capped for England in 1953, Donny Innes, former Scottish rugby internationalist and Aberdeen University Athletics Association President in 1939, and Eric Peters, current Scottish Vice-Captain.
Mr Watson, of Allathan Farm, near Udny, farmed all his life and was a popular figure in the North-east community. He had two main interests – rugby, and raising money for Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s Anchor Unit Appeal, of which he was a trustee. A former President of the of the University’s Athletics Association, Mr Watson served as Honorary President of the AA from 1991-1994. He also played an active role in the campaign to Save the Gordon Highlanders.
His widow Fiona will also attend the match and in the evening she will present a Memorial Quaich to the winning side at a special fundraising dinner at the Marcliffe Hotel, Pitfodels. Principal speaker at the dinner will be Eric Peters and proceeds from the evening will go to the Anchor Unit. Press and Journal sub-editor Peter Mitchell will toast the Club.
Alasdair Heath, Captain of Aberdeen University Rugby team, is one of the organisers of the event. He said there has been a huge response from people wanting to participate in the event.
“George’s great plan for this year was to arrange an Old Boys’ Fixture, so we decided to go ahead and organise it as a mark of respect to him and his family,” he said.
“It originally started off as a small affair for friends and family of George, but so many people said that they would like to be part of it that the whole thing has grown and grown. George, through his all his work with the University, the ARI Anchor Unit and the Gordon Highlanders, touched the lives of so many people and I think this is a very fitting memorial to him.”