NOSTALGIA: Greenyards heroes get set for South African World Cup dream

Five Melrose players and Hawick centre Tony Stanger jetted off to South Africa with the Scotland rugby squad this week in 1995.

By Kathryn Wylie

Published 28th May 2020, 09:54 GMT

At a celebratory dinner, they received a decanter and glasses from Olga McLeish, wife of club president Tom to mark their achievement.

Craig Chalmers, one of the five, made the point that he felt he owed a debt to Melrose players who would be sitting watching the tournament at home on television.

“Without these guys, we would not be playing at international level,” he said.

Our old photograph shows Melrose players Bryan Redpath, Graham Shiel, Craig Joiner, Craig Chalmers and Doddie Weir with club president Tom McLeish.

Scotland made it to the quarter-finals of the contest, being knocked out by New Zealand 48-30.