Edinburgh Northern
Christian Bruce was a keen
rugby player and remains a great
fan of the sport. He recently spoke
to Rugby Club Magazine about his
positive connection with the sport
and Edinburgh Northern Rugby
Club, “I was born in Glasgow
and my formative rugby years
were at Glasgow Academy and
Loretto school. I then played at
Auckland Varsity during a year out
in New Zealand which set me up
for a wonderful period representing
Aberdeen University, North District,
North & Midlands U21’s, Scottish
Universities and Scottish Students
during my university years.”
“My rugby journey took me to
nearly every continent including
North America and Africa with my
amateur rugby career being played
predominantly at Glasgow Accies,
Glasgow Hawks and latterly
when I moved to Edinburgh, with
Murrayfield Wanderers. Between
all these clubs I enjoyed six league
promotions and two BT Murrayfield
Cup appearances, winning a Bowl
Final with Wanderers and losing a
Shield Final with Glasgow Accies.
My main playing positions were
either 10,13 or 15 with full back
being my favourite; you have a
chance to get your breath back at
15 and choose generally when you
want to get involved!
“Our family company, Redpath
Bruce
Property
Management,
which I run jointly with my sister,
Rowan McCall-Smith, is a great
supporter of grass roots rugby,
the development of young people
and the advancement of rugby in
general. In addition, to supporting
Edinburgh Northern we have
sponsored Strathendrick Mini-
Rugby, Cambuslang Mini-Rugby
and recently Wayside Drumpeliers
Female rugby team.
“As debenture holders at
Murrayfield we are also avid followers
of Scottish Rugby. My uncle, Russell
Bruce, was capped seven times
for Scotland immediately post-war
between 1946 and 1949 during
a very successful period for the
national side. He was also capped
several times for the Barbarians. My
dad, Iain, played for the Glasgow
Academical 1st XV in the 50’s and
my brother-in-law, Ewan Rankin,
played for Glasgow District out of
West of Scotland in the 80’s. His
nephew, Rory Kerr, was capped
on the wing for Scotland out of
Glasgow Rugby in the 90’s, so
there is very strong rugby tradition
across our extended family. My
proudest moment has to be winning
the Bowl Final at Murrayfield with
Uncle Russell watching from the
stands over fifty years after he last
played there. He’d be 101 years old
if he were alive today!
“Edinburgh Northern are a
fantastic rugby club. With their old
school values and great amateur
ethos they offer an extremely friendly
place for people to congregate and
enjoy the sport whether it is playing
for the team or watching from the
bar! It is clear that the club services
the needs of many living and
working in city centre Edinburgh
where they are openly welcomed by
the clubs’ outstanding membership.
Myself and all the staff at Redpath
Bruce would like to wish everyone
associated
with
Edinburgh
Northern Rugby Club the very best
of success for many more years to
come! Oh, and when the fun stops,
stop!”
www.rugbyclubmag.com
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