By Phil Caplan, Date: 16/9/12
Scotland Students are celebrating 25 years since their formation with a reunion of past players in Edinburgh in October. A function will be held on Saturday 13th followed by attending the Scotland v Ireland Alitalia European Cup fixture the next day. As part of that match, there will be a half time presentation of past players from the generations who have pulled on the shirt.
Scotland Students has competed at all Home Nations, European Championships and World Cups staged in the student game since 1989 and has inaugurated pioneering tours to new areas such as Italy and Serbia.
There has been some notable personnel within the Scotland Student ranks with, arguably, the highest achieving being Nick Mardon, who went on to a professional career with London Broncos including starring in their famous win over Canberra Raiders in the 1997 World Club Championship.
Sheffield Eagles testimonial recipient and skipper Jack Howieson is another product of Scotland Students who has become a stalwart of the senior national team.
Mike Rush, presently joint Head Coach of St. Helens, was a player in the mid 90s and the Rugby League European Federation’s first ever employee, Kevin Rudd was both a player and coach while Ian “Hector” McNeil, founder and owner of London Skolars, is also an alumni.
On the coaching front, John Risman, son of one of legendary Gus Risman who is now to be immortalised in a statue at Wembley, has had longstanding involvement with the Students. He coached, cajoled and mentored many of the players and other coaches over the years.
The founder of Scotland Students was Mal Reid. Based in Aberdeen at the time, he got the team up and running in 1989 before John took the reins in the early 90s. Mal’s present whereabouts are unknown.
Scotland Students would very much like to hear from anyone who knows how to contact Mal to be able to invite him to the reunion and say thank you for what he started.
Any information on Mal or indeed any past Scotland Student player wanting further information on the reunion, please contact Phil Slaney at philipslaney@hotmail.com
