Grant in action for Scotland 7s earlier this year

Roddy Grant, the 21 year old Scotland 7s forward, has been named as recipient of this season’s John Macphail scholarship.

Grant matriculated from Hilton College, where he captained the 1^st XV in 2005, having been selected to represent KZN Schools in that year.  

The scholarship will enable Grant – who recovered from reconstructive knee surgery at the start of the season to return to the international 7s circuit – to spend his summer playing club rugby in Auckland, New Zealand.

Grant, whose grandfather and great-uncle were both international referees, and who played age-grade water-polo for South Africa, said: “This is amazing news to learn that I was lucky enough to be chosen for this scholarship.  After a long hard slog and disappointments with injury to have this on the horizon now is an unbelievable feeling.”

The first recipient of the scholarship was John Barclay, then a fresh-faced school-leaver from Dollar Academy in 2005.  Barclay blossomed playing club rugby in Wellington, New Zealand and the experience provided the impetus for him to win a professional contract with Glasgow Warriors and, eventually, make his Scotland debut against the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup last September.

Grant added: “It puts it into perspective when you see what John has achieved.  I know this scholarship will benefit me and I’m just so enthusiastic to get out there.”

John Macphail won two caps for Scotland as a hooker against England in 1949 and South Africa in 1951.  In his business career he was chief executive then chairman of the Edrington Group, a private company that is owned by the Robertson Trust.

Mr Macphail died in the summer of 2004 and his family and the trustees were keen to establish a scholarship in his memory.

Duncan Munro, Director, The Robertson Scholarship Trust, said: “The Trust is delighted to provide a further opportunity for a talented, young Scottish player to experience an intensive 12 weeks of rugby in New Zealand.  We congratulate Roddy on his selection as the fourth John Macphail Rugby Scholar and look forward to following his progress during the course of the summer as he trains and plays with the Auckland University Club.”

“John Barclay clearly learned just what is required if you want to perform well on the rugby field and I wish Roddy all the best and hope he benefits as much from the opportunity.”

Stephen Gemmell, National Academy Manager, said: “We are delighted that Roddy has been chosen by our national academy and age-grade coaches as the recipient of this award.  We hope he will gain as much from the experiences as the previous recipients.”