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In
preparation for the Student Rugby League Europa Cup which begins on
September 6, and in association with Scotland Rugby League, Scotland
Students have produced their own tartan.
The tartan has been designed by Geoffrey (Tailor) Kiltmakers of the Royal
Mile in Edinburgh and is the first ever tartan designed exclusively for the
sport of rugby league. Five colours are
featured in the design. Blue and white represent the colours of Scotland and
which are also the colours of the national playing jersey, purple signifies
the thistle of Scotland and red, the colour of the
Lion Rampant.
The fifth colour is Hawick green. This is included in recognition of the
performances of David Valentine, who is the only Scotsman ever to lift a
world cup in any sport.
Valentine, who was born in Hawick, played rugby union for Scotland, before
switching codes to play for Huddersfield in 1947. He was an instant success
and was selected for the full Great Britain side in only his second season
of playing rugby league. He made his international debut in the defeat of
Australia at Headingley, Leeds on October 9, 1948 and went on to gain a
total of 15 caps for the Lions.
His
greatest hour came in 1954, when he was appointed captain of the Lions in
the first ever World Cup of either of the rugby codes.
Although the side from the British Isles was thought to have little chance
over the mighty Australian Kangaroos and an experienced French team, they
beat France in the final of the World Cup by 16-12 at the Parc des Prince to
seal a famous victory.
The tartan also features on the full international jersey, where it is
featured on the outside of the shirt collar.
Speaking about the new tartan, Coach of Scotland Students, Kevin Rudd said:
"Any Scotsman who pulls on the Scotland jersey to represent his country is
one of the privileged few. The players who wear the first ever Tartan of
Scotland Rugby League will play with the knowledge that he is carrying with
him, that little bit of luck from the first ever rugby league World Cup."
Rudd added: "Hopefully the Scottish students will be able carry some of that
Valentine luck in to the Europa Cup."
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