Barrie Brown - Where is he Now?

At the inspiration of 1st XV Manager Grant Wilson we are interviewing past Boroughmuir stars to get an update on their lives. We start off with former 'Muir hooker Barrie Brown.

Barrie Brown – Hooker - BRFC 1987-1996

When did you come to Boroughmuir RFC, from where and why?

In 1987 from the Edinburgh Accies. I was approached by Bruce Hay and as I was having trouble convincing the Accies coach at the time of my abilities, I thought is was a positive move. It proved very much the case.

Which players from your time at the club stick in your mind and why?

Peter Wright. He would argue with anybody and often did. The words ‘ten yards for dissent’ followed by ‘shut up Peter’ are my abiding memories from most games.

Kenny Wilson. The grumpiest player I’ve ever played with.

Jon Price. The second grumpiest player I’ve ever played with.

Murry Walker. Tight shorts.

Graham Drummond. A right hand like Tyson and knew how to use it.

Deek McLaughlin. In the showers!

Brian Edwards. He hated a side-step (or didn’t know how to do one).

Gerry Drybrough & Stevie Douglas. With me, a peerless 7’s front row made famous at Twickenham – the stuff of legends.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Boroughmuir?

In my first season winning a place on the Scotland tour. It totally justified my move from Accies and proved beyond doubt that Boroughmuir was the correct place for me to be. 

Certainly the trips away were times to look back upon with fond memories. In particular the win in Pontypool where we won 22-20 after being down 20-0 at half time. The win in Maesteg, because of the size of our pack where I was the tallest! Also in that game doing the mud-walk after scoring the last try.    

Our appearance at the Middlesex Sevens was also a great memory, where we somehow managed to reach the semi-finals. This was totally unexpected as we had lost in the first round of every Border sevens tournament prior to this appearance. The all-night bash at the Richmond Hotel was a night to remember (pity I don’t!).

Winning the 1991 championship was an obvious highlight for me and more importantly the club. We played the best rugby that season and the beating of Heriots in the penultimate game was by far our best performance in my time at the club.

I have many other great memories, unfortunately most of them are unprintable!

Do you still follow the club, and if so, how?

Every Monday, on your excellent web-site. I check the results, videos of the tries and look out for any news. The facilities that you now have look excellent & I look forward to visiting when next back in Edinburgh.

What are you doing now, rugby – wise?

I manage the 1^st team of a very ambitious club, Naas RFC, 15 miles south-west of Dublin in a town of the same name (http://www.naasrugby.com/). The club currently are looking for senior status by qualifying out of the 1^st division of the Leinster League. Club rugby is very strong in Ireland and every game has an intensity and professionalism that never fails to impress. Hopefully one day we may organise a fixture between the clubs.

What are your thoughts on the state of the game in Scotland?

Since I moved to Ireland in 1998, I have had an extremely hard time over the state of Scottish rugby. Until recently I have had no reason to disagree but I see for sure evidence of a significant recovery both internationally and provincially. Recent wins over Munster and Leinster brought a skip in my step over here. I just hope that we can beat the Irish sometime soon so I can recover some of the bragging rights I have lost over recent years. I will then be a happy man!

Select your best Boroughmuir XV from the period you played at the club.

1 Grant Wilson – Any height I wanted, I got – a great scrumager. Davie Cockburn gets an honourable mention.

2 Would have to be me I suppose!

3 Peter Wright – I’d be scared not to put him in.

4 Jon Price – Excellent at the front of the lineout & another great scrumager.

5 Brian Richardson – In for lineout, support play and singing.

6 Henry Edwards – Very tough competitor who really ‘packed a punch’. Kenny Wilson would be a very able substitute.

7 Graham Drummond – Another hard player that I was glad was on my side.

8 Stuart Reid – Told him after his first game he would play for Scotland – I was right.

9 Mike Hall – He gave me so many tries I couldn’t leave him out.

10 Murry Walker – I like any player that ‘gives it a go’ – he did many times.

11 Mike Debusk – Very underrated player with a clever head for the game.

12 Sean Lineen – A superb carrier of the ball who gave us donkeys a real target to aim at. Our ‘over the top’ lineout option was a real highlight.

13 Brian Edwards – Another good man to when the game was in the balance. Hated toothpaste after an unfortunate incident in Wales.

14 Deek McLaughlin – Biggest chest in the game (no other comments please) with a real eye for the try line.

15 Stevie Douglas – As I spent a lot of time in the full-back position, I got to know him well. Very brave player who was also great craic off the pitch.