At the inspiration of 1st XV Manager Grant Wilson we are
interviewing past Boroughmuir stars to get an update on their lives.
This time it's Craig Seager and before the interview Grant Wilson
explained a bit about the former 'Muir star.
"By
way of introduction, Seags came over with Sean Lineen and Chris
Treagaskis in '88 for a season and lasted 5 years. He was a burly
centre - the broadsword to Sean's rapier - and a fantastic club man,
loved by all. His sense of humour and wit were renowned the length
and breadth of the land, and he made friends all over the place. He
was a talented rugby player too; sevens and fifteens, and was
unfortunate not to play more games for the ones, but with Sean and
Epic around, we were well off in midfield.
He was
a mean cricketer then too and does a marvellous Ritchie Benaud
impression. My lasting memory of him will be Sean and Lynne's
wedding. The bride and groom are being whisked off at the end of the
reception in a large limo and are snuggling up on the back seat en
route to the honeymoon suite. 'I love you, ' sighs Lynne, looking up
into Sean's eyes. 'I love you too mate,' says an Antipodean voice
from the boot....... Seags - smuggled into the boot by others in a
drunken prank. Priceless."
Craig Seager -
Centre - BRFC
When did you come to Boroughmuir RFC, from where and why?
I Joined the ‘Muir from
the Avalon Club in Wellington in 1988 with Chris Treagaskis. He had teed
up a stint here with Norrie Rowan during the 1987 World Cup and asked me
If I’d like to join him. I thought it would be a good idea to go for an
off season and come back to Wellington fit and ready to go. I never
counted on the hospitality, and the lifestyle would be so good that I’d
stay for 5 years.
Which players from your time at the club stick in your mind and why?
Sean Lineen and Bruce
Hay for their class and friendship.
Norrie Rowan for making
it all possible to start with, and for looking after us the first season
we were here. I caught up with Norrie on the Lions Tour. A great guy
with lots of great stories. I owe him a lot.
Stuart Reid, who, when
he first joined the Muir was so wet behind the ears it wasn’t funny. He
soon learned the ropes though and now he’s a good kid …and a great
friend! I just hope those drills I’ve given him have helped!
Peter Wright for giving
me my first experience at public speaking by letting me be his best
man!!! A great mate even though he did cost me $150 on our last meal
back in ’05!!
Allan Elliot….the other
blondie!! A more genuine guy you couldn’t wish to meet!!
Graeme ‘H’ Wilson
another top bloke with great banter.
Murry Walker for his
broad accent and tight shorts…and having us at his hoose for our fist
Xmas away from home.
There are just so many
more to mention, each have there own reasons, but just so they don’t
feel left oot….
Robbie ‘Robcop’ Smith,
Wee Martin Robertson, Grant Tommy Russell, Grant ‘Corky’ McCorckindale,
Binny, Telford, Barr, The Laidlaws (sorry no xmas cards this year), Jud,
Mumpy Ken, Cristian Raducanu the defector! A great story. Pricey and Big
Bird Richardson, Drum, Grant Wilson and Barry Brown….Colin McCartney my
former landlord …..shit I may as well just name them all in my all time
XV!
Also the whole Muir
Lions Tour party of ‘05! I was standing at the airport waiting for
Gordon Sneddon and Brian Edwards (2 of a kind) to arrive as they were
staying with me, and all of a sudden the rest of the muir lads came down
the walkway and I started to recall all the old faces and names and it
was quite an emotional moment. Big bears hugs and man love etc!! I have
the tour party photo taken in the Avalon clubhouse sitting in my bar at
home.
I couldn’t do a whose
who without listing former barmaids Lyndsay, Inez and Sue….great
ladies!!!
What is your fondest memory of your time at Boroughmuir?
Without being corney,
in all honesty my fondest memory is the people and the experience I had
there. I’ve always said that those were the best 5 years of my life and
I’ve made the best friends who I still keep in contact with. I came
back for Stuart Reids wedding in 2000 after a 7 year absence and it was
like I’d never been away. The people are just too good.
Dry your eyes mate!!!!
Also Xmas’ at the Hay
household. Cocktails were a speciality!
On the playing side,
beating Pontypool was a highlight, and the way we did it scoring 20
points in the last 15 minutes. Playing Llanelli in front of what to me
was a big crowd at Meggetland, was awesome.
Scoring a try on TV
(Muir v Melrose ‘92) with the voice of rugby Bill McLaren commentating
was special….…and gets the occasional viewing….just ask Allan Elliot,
the other blondie!
Langholme 7s was very
memorable. It was the day after the Boroughmuir prizegiveing and all
the boys were half cut. Robbie Smith decided to have a beer on the way
down in the bus, so we all had a few. Anyway, we got beat in the final
after knocking out Kelso who were top dogs at the time…..they weren’t
happy!!!
But probably playing
for a great 2nd XV that won 44 games on the trot and winning
the league 3 years in a row was something that doesn’t happen too
often. The spirit in that team and in the club at the time was
unbeatable.
Do you still follow the club, and if so, how?
Yeah I keep in contact
with all the guys I’ve mentioned and I visit the web site every Monday
morning without fail. It’s a great site and the guys who run it should
get free booze every week.
What are you doing now, rugby – wise?
Retired from playing. I
did some coaching in the past 7 years or so. I coached the Avalon Backs
in 2005. Had a stint at league for a couple of seasons as well.
What are your thoughts on the state of the game in Scotland?
From what I can see and
from what I’ve heard it appears there needs to be a change in the
model. I don’t know how many of the pro teams have in their squad, but
only 22 can be used in a game. From what I hear, the remaining squad
members don’t play at all. Surely these guys need rugby, so wouldn’t it
be a good idea for them to be released back to their clubs for the week
they are not used by their pro teams? Obviously this can’t happen every
week, but these guys should be encouraged to play. You don’t get any
better sitting in the grandstand and doing weights. This is what happens
here. If guys aren’t required by the Hurricanes, the clubs get to use
them for that week, be it off the bench or whatever. But it raises the
play of the rest of the team like you wouldn’t believe.
Also, the game appears
to be changing worldwide in terms of its ethos. Players seem to think
that if they can't get in a pro team, there’s no point in putting any
more effort in and they disappear from the game and do something else.
This is what the game all over is struggling with. The old school used
to be, rugby is everything. You sign up at the start of the year, train
2 times a week with your club and 2 times a week with your mates, and
take your holidays in the OFF SEASON! Its changed…people are more
selfish these days and don’t realise the opportunities rugby brings.
‘Life is ALL
about people and in my opinion, rugby is one of the best games you can
play to learn about life’
……….Craig Seager 2007
Select your best Boroughmuir XV from the period you played at the club.
This is the team I’d
love to play with again.
15 Stevie
Douglas/Duncan McRae (gives me options at the back)
14 Robbie Smith
( great running techinique and loves to bump)
13 Brian
Edwards ( best side step in the game, legs don’t move but the head does)
12 Sean Lineen
(I’ll stand down to let him have a go)
11 Deek
Mclaughlin ( the snake charmer, and great bloke when I can understand
him….yer ken what a mean like!)
10 Allan
Elliot (pure class and goal kicker, and means I’m not the only baldy
in the team)
9 Martin
Robertson (does a good Jimmy Sommerville impression)
8 Gordon
Sneddon ( for banter)
7 Graham
Drummond ( for protection)
6 Stuart Reid
( he always wanted to play tight side)
5 Brian
Richardson ( banter and singing)
4 Paul
Jennings ( to get my beer and do what I tell him)
3 Peter Wright
( I hope I got the right side of the scrum)
2 David
Cockburn ( great banter, and good with the spoons with Jud..i just hope
he can throw in)
1 Grant Wilson
(I hope I got the right side of the scrum)
Reserves:
As nowadays its all
about the squad, the following guys make an appearance:
Graeme H Wilson (he
never got to play with these guys)
Me….it’s my team
Gerry Dryburgh…..need
him to do spoons with Cobie
Murry Walker….to give
the opposition cheek
Mike Hall ….. to stitch
up Reidy when he gets his eye cut
M’Lord Mcartney…great
pace, and we need a poser in the team
Team Doctor: Martin
MacFarlane ( good for injections in the arse to cure the hangovers)
Manager: Norrie Rowan
(hopefully get a trip to Amsterdam out of it)
Coach: Bruce Hay (
instant respect, one of the boys, but keeps it real at the same time)
Would love to hear from
any Muir people on the email.
craig.seager@nzdf.mil.nz
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