The Kilted Kiwi

He's only a bit more Scottish than national soccer manager Berti Vogts, but rugby star Brendan Laney has fallen in love with Scotland, almost as much as Scotland has fallen for him, says Alex Mead

After less than two years in Scotland, Brendan Laney has achieved more than most Scotsmen dream of doing.

Not only does he play professional rugby for top provincial side Edinburgh, but he's also become a pivotal part of Scotland's national side and was instrumental in the country's historic win over South Africa last autumn, scoring 11 points in the 21-6 victory.

What's even more impressive about Laney's achievements is that he's not even Scottish. In fact, by all accounts, he's a New Zealander. Having lived his whole life in the land of the long white cloud, Laney only set foot on Scottish soil in 2001.

And, barely seven days after doing so, he found himself in the navy blue of Scotland playing in a full test against his fellow countrymen, the mighty All Blacks.

“I never thought that within a week of arriving I'd be playing for Scotland against the All Blacks,” Laney told Scotland Magazine.

“It was a weird sensation as I'd lined up alongside a lot of the boys in New Zealand only a few weeks before.

“I didn't know all the words to the anthem but I was very, very proud nonetheless.”

Through rugby's bizarre legibility laws, Laney qualified thanks to a maternal grandmother born in Lesmahagow.

At first, the press were fierce in their criticism of the Scottish Rugby Union for picking Laney, but, now he's notched up more than 100 points for his adopted country, things have gone somewhat quiet.

“Coming over to Scotland for rugby was a good job opportunity for m...

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• By : Alex Mead
• In : Interview
• Issue : 11
• Page : 28
• Words : 1,140