COLIN Gregor has played rugby for more than 15 years but there is a good reason why he is ambivalent about never having played at Murrayfield in a full Test match.

THE old Windmill theatre, where girls posed naked but immobile as the law required and comedians sought laughs from men in mackintoshes waiting for the girls, used to boast that throughout the war years “we never closed”.

WHEN Sean Maitland made his debut for Scotland and was swiftly propelled into the British and Irish Lions squad, re-opening the debate over the flying-in of New Zealanders to Scotland, there was one individual embedded deep into Scottish culture who allowed ­himself a wry smile.

BEN Foden has lurched from one disappointment to the next this season – but all that will be forgotten if he can help Northampton defeat arch-rivals Leicester to win their first Aviva Premiership title.

Hamilton Academical have appointed Alex Neil as player/manager on a permanent basis.

Newcastle moved a step closer to a return to the Aviva Premiership after claiming a nine-point lead over Bedford in the first leg of their Championship final last night, with stand-off Jimmy Gopperth doing most of the damage.

THE French Top 14 will feature another Scotsman next season after Borderer Scott Newlands was handed an extension with new arrivals Oyonnax.

Justin Tipuric hopes that Sam Warburton’s selection as British & Irish Lions captain will not harm his own chances of earning a Test spot against Australia.

HUNDREDS of Scotland rugby supporters of all ages, SRU staff and even tax inspectors took part in a send-off party on the famous Murrayfield pitch yesterday for two well-known old friends.

TWO of the most iconic parts of Murrayfield’s history will be removed today and taken to a lucky club stadium somewhere in Scotland.

SOUTH Africa have left out a host of familiar Test names from their squad to compete in the quadrangular tournament with Scotland, Italy and Samoa next month and will head into battle with a new blend of experience and youth.

GLASGOW’S narrow loss in the RaboDirect PRO12 semi-finals for the third time in four years has only whet the appetite of supporters it appears, with the club predicting a record number of season ticket sales for 2013-14.

STEVEN Shingler is hopeful of finally making the step-up to international rugby in Japan in the coming weeks, albeit in the red of Wales rather than the navy blue of Scotland.

BRITISH and Irish Lions flanker Sean O’Brien could yet play for Leinster in Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 final after making rapid progress in his recovery from a knee injury.

RORY Lawson long ago gave up worrying about whether he was flavour of the month in Scotland, but the Newcastle scrum-half is eagerly looking forward to a return to the Aviva Premiership and a reviving of his battle with Mike Blair.

NORTH Berwick RFC will temporarily close its doors this summer before re-opening as an improved community sports hub in East Lothian.

ONE of the Borders’ and Scottish rugby’s more popular characters, Robin Charters, has passed away at the age of 82.

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has ruled out making another offer to Jonny Wilkinson to join the forthcoming tour to Australia.

England are to add Northampton’s Luther Burrell and Stephen Myler to their squad for their South American tour after Alex Goode and Joel Tomkins were ruled out through injury.

Former Wales centre Matthew J Watkins has revealed he has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.