Rhino Rugby were delighted to supply the official Match balls for Scotlands Lothian and Borders Police XV who took on a star studded Steve Culley Select XV, featuring many of Scotland’s former internationalists, on Sunday 16 September at the Police headquarters in Edinburgh.
The match was organised in memory of Steve Cully a former police officer in Edinburgh who sadly lost his life last September. He had a heart attack when on an armed response unit training exercise. Steve was a talented rugby player who played his club rugby with a number of Edinburgh clubs notably Murrayfield Wanderers, Stewart’s Melville FP and Edinburgh Accies, as well as for Ireland at age-grade.
He also coached the women’s team from Heriot Watt University aka “The Wandies” to league and cup victories in the early 1990s.
Colleagues were that inspired by his love of the sport they decided to create a family friendly day with various activities taking place with the main event of the day being the big match against many of Scotland’s former rugby stars. All money raised will go to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.
Captain of the Steve Cully Select, Stewart Bennet, said: “Initially a few close friends and colleagues wanted to get together and celebrate Steve’s life with a game of rugby and just have a laugh, but the idea has grown arms and legs in the past few weeks.
“We decided to get some former internationalists for the team so we will have a sprinkling of young and old guys, some of whom might not be able to run quite as fast as they used to”
“I’m Steve’s brother-in-law so when my name came up to captain the side I was really delighted. I hope we can raise a lot of money for the fund which will then go to the charity Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.”
The Steve Cully Select was coached by John Jeffrey, a friend of Steve’s, and manager for the day was Ex British Lions Captain Finlay Calder. Many of the players pulling on the jersey were household names in Scottish Rugby Doddie Weir, Scott Hastings, Gregor Townsend, Duncan Hodge and Gary Armstrong to name but a few.
The Steve Culley Select ran out comfortable winners over there Police rivals but on this day the score did not matter as it was down to remembering a great husband, father, friend and Rugby enthusiast.
RG
 |
 |
| Victorious capt Stewart Bennet |
Barry Stewart, Peter Wright, Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir |
