Soem Ireland and Scotland rugby curiosities
Alias Paterson, Godman and Hines
MOSSY CHOPS? World Class Phil? Malkovich? Wagga? Posh? Chunk? A selection of nicknames of players in the Scotland squad.
Mossy Chops refers to Scottish fullback Chris Paterson, who was given the name by his brother. It was because he thought that Chris looked like a cartoon dinosaur character called Mossy Chops.
World Class Phil is outhalf Phil Godman, who was handed the sobriquet after coach Frank Hadden’s assertion that the player was a world-class attacking runner.
Malkovich refers to the injured Simon Webster, because of his likeness to actor John Malkovich, Wagga is Nathan Hines – Wagga Wagga in Australia is where he was born – while Posh is Hugo Southwell. His nickname is based on the tragic lack of Hugos in Scottish life.
Hat-trick heroes
THREE IRISH players have scored a hat-trick of tries against Scotland in the history of Five/Six Nations matches between the countries.
Eugene Davy was first to achieve the feat in 1930, followed by Séamus Byrne in 1953 and finally Ireland’s current captain Brian O’Driscoll in 2002. Incidentally, Mike Gibson has played against Scotland more times than any other player, having made 14 appearances.
Metcalfe's tall story with Scotland
SCOTLAND PROVIDED the tallest player ever to line out in a mainstream rugby union match in Richard Metcalfe. Born in Leeds, England on November 21st, 1973, he grew to seven foot (213cm) and, while it gave him an obvious advantage in the lineout, his body position in contact was less than ideal because his centre of gravity was too high.
He won 11 Scotland caps from 2000-’02, playing his club rugby with Northampton Saints before joining Borders but his career came to an end with a knee injury in 2003.
In 2005 Metcalfe set up his own sportswear and sourcing company, Orion Sourcing, in Newcastle-upon- Tyne where he lives with his family.
Hadden's past to be reckoned with
THINGS THAT you always wanted to know about Scotland coach Frank Hadden but were afraid to ask.
Did you know that Frank Hadden began his rugby career as understudy to Scotland and Lions outhalf Ian McGeechan at Headingley? Did you know Hadden’s coaching career began whilst a teacher at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh?
Did you know that under his guidance the school’s first XV won 54 of 58 matches?
Did you know his first professional appointment was as assistant coach with the Caledonia Reds, but their merger with Glasgow Warriors saw Hadden return to Merchiston, but not before his inclusion on the 1998 Scotland tour of Australia as a technical coach?
Did you know his first break as a head coach came when internal problems caused Ian Rankin to leave his post at Edinburgh Gunners, now Edinburgh Rugby, in 2000? Hadden was asked by the SRU to take the position, and in 2004 he became the first coach to guide a Scottish professional side to a Heineken Cup quarter-final?
