An appreciation by Kevin Ferrie in todays Herald


‘He was a real rugby man who lived for the game’
Scottish rugby was yesterday mourning the passing of one its greatest ever players following the death of Bruce Hay.

A beloved figure throughout the sport and across the globe, tributes were led by Sean Lineen, the son of an All Black, who lent his weight to the Scottish cause after becoming part of Bruce's extended family at Boroughmuir RFC.

"This was expected but it is still really difficult because he was such a big man," said Lineen yesterday after word came that Hay had lost his battle with a brain tumour at the age of 57. "When I went to see him recently it nearly broke me. He was still laughing at things I was saying but so frustrated because he was unable to speak.

"It is a travesty to lose him so young. We are in World Cup mode and so much is going on in Scottish rugby, but this is the most important."

It is a measure of Hay's popularity that although he is not even a family member Lineen received endless messages from well-wishers yesterday as news spread. Then again the two were known to have formed a special bond.

"He was like an older brother to me when I first arrived here. I couldn't really understand him at all when we first spoke, but we quickly realised we spoke the same language because he was always at his best with a pint in his hand talking about rugby and he really knew the game,"

Lineen said warmly.

"He could be a hard man who did not suffer fools gladly, particularly when it came to rugby, but he was a great character - a real rugby man who lived for the game.

Lineen revealed that joining the same club as Hay had been a major factor in his decision to come over from New Zealand in 1988.

"When I saw it was Bruce Hay's club that I had the chance of joining it helped make my mind up. He was Mr Boroughmuir, but is also known all over the world," said Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam centre.

What made Bruce's career particularly remarkable was that he played so often for Scotland and toured with the British & Irish Lions at a time when the man frequently voted the nation's greatest rugby player, Andy Irvine, was in his pomp.

Toughness rather than style characterised his play, so much so that Jim Renwick once teasingly claimed that a try Bruce scored in a Test they played in together was the first he had witnessed "live and in slow motion at the same time".

The Edinburgh and Scotland selectors always looked to accommodate both their great full-backs, while the only time Andy Irvine was dropped by Scotland was in Bruce's favour. There was a mutual affection there, revealed the man alongside whom all bar one of Bruce's 23 Scotland appearances and three Lions Tests were made.

"If he'd been playing today he would have won 50 or 60 caps," said Irvine yesterday. "For seven years he was involved in every game - playing or on the bench.

"He came from an unfashionable club. He went on to play senior rugby with Boroughmuir, but he always held on to his Liberton roots."

Once retired from playing, Bruce remained devoted to Boroughmuir, coaching them for many years, while also working extensively as a coach and manager to Scotland's age grade teams.

"He could really pick a rugby player," Lineen added. "Not only could he see whether they could play he was also excellent at identifying their qualities as a person."

Bruce's popularity was clear. Late last year Ian McLauchlan, the former Scotland captain of the same vintage, contacted me seeking publicity for a tribute dinner to Bruce. However, by the time I interviewed him most of the tables had already been sold on the basis of word of mouth and then rapidly sold out.

Another indicator of his status was that the very first thing Andy Leslie, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, did when visiting Scotland last month was visit Bruce at his home. The two had played against one another when Scotland faced New Zealand in 1975. Although Bruce could not talk to him, Leslie said afterwards he could see his old friend's eyes light up as he revisited old memories.

When my own interview with him took place last year Bruce had been in fine form, discussing the game past, present and future with typical gusto, as well as his friends within it, but Lineen explained his capacity to do so had been against the odds even then.

"It was one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and the medics gave him no hope but they couldn't believe how tough he was in fighting it," he said.

The Glasgow Warriors coach was particularly proud that, although Bruce would not have been aware of it, some of his club's players were among the Scotland side who produced an utterly appropriate performance at the weekend against Italy.

"Bruce was a passionate Scotsman and that was the sort of performance that would have made him particularly proud. He loved to see his teams grinding it out," Lineen observed.

The Scotland Rugby World Cup players and management yesterday joined those paying tribute.

"It's obviously very, very sad to hear of Bruce's death," said Jason White, the Scotland captain. "I first met him as a member of the Scotland under-19 squad that he managed at the IRB World Championship in Argentina 10 years ago. He was a really genuine guy with the interests of players always uppermost in his mind. On behalf of all the players I extend our sympathies to his family and friends."

Frank Hadden, was also involved with Bruce at age grade level and the Scotland head coach said: "It's terribly sad. Bruce's contribution to Scottish rugby has been simply immense.

"My personal dealings with him started when he was manager with Scotland under-19s and he brought a tremendous enthusiasm, commitment and ability - just as he had shown as a player - to that role. If there was a more popular man in the game, then I have yet to meet him."

12:25am today



By KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer

This article was posted on 2-Oct-2007, 10:00 by Hugh Barrow.