The Moose

Over the past year there has been one ’Muir player who has emerged as a new character at the club. Canadian stand-off turned second row Alec Douglas is that player and he has made quite an impression on the club, both on and off the field.

Since baring all at the Melrose 7s a year ago, the 22 year old joiner from Vancouver has become something of a figurehead for the social side of Boroughmuir. But to label him merely as such would be unfair as the man affectionately known as ‘Moose’ recently made his debut for the first XV.

Having arrived at the club as a fly-half, Alec often found difficulties in getting regular games in any of the three teams. “I wasn’t getting games very often at 10. There were a lot of good stand-offs at the club when I came and with young Graeme Blackhall in the 3rds I wasn’t even getting many games for them.” The answer, however, was placed in front of him. “At the Moffat 10s last August, we had a shortage of forwards so the coaches decided to put me in at second row for the day. I played pretty well and so I didn’t really have much choice about the position change. But it’s been good. I’ve now moved up to the second team and I’ve been playing a lot this season, I’ve even had my shot in the 1^st XV, so I guess it was the right move.” 

However, whenever it is that he finds himself back in Canada, Moose intends to return to his more natural position. “Whilst over here I prefer playing in the second row, when I return to Canada I’ll probably play stand-off again. Just because that’s where I’m used to playing and the competition for second row at my club in Vancouver is really strong, both the guys in that position play for Canada, so I’ll get more games at 10.”

And on the subject of returning to his homeland, not even Alec knows when that will happen. “My only definite plan to return is August 27^th for my mate’s wedding. At the moment I’m thinking I’ll stay for next season but anything can change quickly so you never really know. I’ll have been here for two years in September and I will return at some point but I have no idea when.”

But he does have big ambitions for his rugby career when he gets home. “My aim is to play as much for my club’s first team as possible, for as long as possible. And from there you never know. In Canada players aren’t usually looked at for higher levels until they’re around 26 so I’ve got a few years yet. I’d like to get some games for Vancouver and then perhaps the provincial side. And of course everyone has dreams of playing for their country, I’m no different from that. But whilst I’m here I’d like to play as much as possible. Hopefully I can get some more time on the field for the 1^st team next season. I got on in a practice match against Haddington and that was easily my best on-field moment since I came here. I’d love to experience that again.”

There have been suggestions that social divisions can occur between the teams at Boroughmuir. Moose, however, is not aware of such strain. “Maybe I’m blind to it, but I wouldn’t say the 1^st XV only socialise with other 1^st XV players and so on. Definitely last season when there was so much success at the club, there was nothing even approaching that kind of division. This season, perhaps members of each side do focus on their team-mates more but I think that’s more out of trying to get things right on the pitch than any lack of respect for the other teams at the club.”

Indeed, Alec cites the social atmosphere of the club as the biggest reason for him being here. “There must be thirty or forty people at this club who I would consider real friends and everybody’s been so great to me since I arrived. The club is so friendly and welcoming that I feel more for it than I did for my club back home. I couldn’t even consider joining another Scottish club, even though I had options to go to either Heriot’s or Watsonians when I arrived in the country.”

And it was perhaps that camaraderie which convinced him to first do what he has now become famous for at the club. “I first did the streaking thing at Melrose, I’m still not sure how it came up but I just got coaxed into doing it. After that it just spiralled out of control. There was the following week at Goldenacre when we won the league and another one the week after that. There was a bit of a rest after that before I had the choice whether to do Melrose again and I decided to make it a bit of a tradition.”

Whether playing or not, Moose’s antics have entertained people at the club since the moment he arrived and there will be more than a few hoping that he decides to keep any plans to return home on hold for another year at least.

Simon Furnivall