Scottish Rugby is saddened to learn of the death of its long-serving former secretary Bill Hogg, who passed away at his Edinburgh home at the weekend.  He was 70.
Mr Hogg gave a lifetime of service to the game that he loved.  Even though he retired from his post in June 2005 he remained indefatigable in his commitment to the sport, whether as the honorary administrator of Scottish rugby’s injured players’ charity, the Murrayfield Centenary Fund, or as a referee of school matches at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh.
Former Scotland captain, British and Irish Lion and erstwhile SRU President Andy Irvine, said today: “My first thoughts are with Bill’s wife and family.  Bill has been an institution in Scottish Rugby for many, many years.
“I came across him first as a player.  He succeeded John Law as secretary.  I worked very closely with him in my year of office as president.  You could not get a more helpful, experienced and informative individual.
“I had great admiration for his interest in the game.  It wasn’t just his duties as secretary.  He refereed every Saturday morning down at Myreside come rain, hail or shine.  He didn’t move much from the centre of the pitch in his latter years but his love of the game shone through.
“He was just a really great rugby man of the old tradition.”
Bill, a CA by profession, was a proud member of the Watsonian club, from which he refereed at senior club level for many years. 
He joined Scottish Rugby as treasurer in 1978-79 and succeeded John Law as secretary of the Union in 1983.  He held the additional post of Chief Executive from season 1992-93 until 1997-98.
He was Scotland team secretary from 1983 to 1996, being the manager's assistant at the Rugby World Cup tournaments in 1987, 1991 and 1995 as well as on the Scotland tours of New Zealand (1990) and North America (1991). 
He retired as secretary in June 2005 though then helped as a consultant for one year when Graham Ireland took on the role. 
Bill’s office at Murrayfield was like something out of a Dickens novel, with paper and more paper in every conceivable nook and cranny.  Yet he knew where everything was. 
He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of what moulded Scottish rugby over the years and represented the SRU on bodies such as the International Rugby Board, European Rugby Cup and Six Nations Committee.  Earlier this month he even represented ERC as match commissioner at both Glasgow Warriors’ match against Wasps and Edinburgh’s contest against Cardiff Blues, while he also remained a member of Scottish Rugby’s Discipline Panel. 
If rugby was his great sporting love then cricket came a close second.  Again the youngsters at George Watson’s College benefited from his appreciation of the sport’s values as he continued beyond his retirement to umpire matches with the integrity which was his hallmark. 
Bill also loved to attend Test cricket and, with wicker picnic basket and scorebook in hand, would set out for a day at Old Trafford or Headingley. 
Bill was devoted to his family, and took great pleasure in family holidays to Florida, where the apocryphal tale was told that he would mark off the rides out of ten each year, before checking in with Murrayfield to make sure all was in order. 
He doted on his grand-children and was as enthusiastic in taking them to the swing park as he was to any event on the rugby field. 
Bill was awarded an OBE for services to Scottish Rugby in June 2006.  He said at the time: “I am honoured to receive this accolade for something which has not only been my profession, but also something that I thoroughly enjoy.  It has been a pleasure having contact with all clubs around the country and attending games every weekend.  I have been fortunate enough to be on five Scotland tours and it has been a particular privilege to be involved with the Murrayfield Centenary Fund assisting injured players.”
Current SRU President and former Scotland captain and British and Irish Lion, Ian McLauchlan added: “It is a sad day for Scottish Rugby.  Bill served the union with a fastidious yet benevolent eye.  He will be a hard man to replace.”
Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to Bill’s wife Louise, his children Alisdair and Jane, his grand-children Beth and Evie and all his friends.
We will advise details of his funeral in due course.

 

This article was posted on 1-Feb-2011, 07:33 by Hugh Barrow.