Dismay as private boys school rugby jersey features name of domestic abuser
Merchiston Castle School said it had regrets about the decision to include Rufus McLean on its rugby shirt
Scotland’s last remaining all-boys school has said it will remove the name of a convicted domestic abuser from its rugby strip.
Merchiston Castle School moved to apologise “for any upset” caused by the addition of Rufus McLean’s name to its First XV shirts.
McLean was sentenced in 2023 for aggressive and controlling behaviour towards his then-girlfriend.
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To the dismay of former pupils, the ex-Glasgow Warriors player features on his alma mater’s new “legacy jersey”.
However, following contact by The Scotsman, the school said steps will be taken to “rectify” the situation.
Hugh Jones, head of Merchiston Castle School, said the institution’s management “recognise and understand the concerns raised regarding the inclusion of this individual's name on our First XV rugby jerseys”.
He said the school is “sincerely sorry for any upset this has caused”, adding that steps will be take to “rectify this” and the name will be removed from the jerseys.
Mr Jones added: “We have also been in direct communication with those who brought the matter to our attention.
“Care, integrity and respect are fundamental to our school community, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that our actions consistently reflect the values we seek to instil in our pupils.”
The issue came to light when the school shared pictures of the new jersey on social media platform Instagram, being modelled by ex-pupil and Scotland player Magnus Bradbury.
It is covered in the names of Merchiston Castle School rugby playing alumni, including McLean whose name is misspelled.
The post now appears to have been removed.
The decision to commemorate McLean on the shirt is understood to have been signed off by the school’s Head of Sport, Nick De Luca, who is also a former Scotland rugby player.
Rape Crisis Scotland external affairs manager Nicola Love condemned the move by Merchiston Castle, saying abusers with “exceptional talents or abilities are still abusers”.
"Survivors who choose to report what has happened to them often have to hear about how their perpetrator is a great student or how damaging that a sentence will be to their promising career,” Ms Love said.
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She said the impact on the perpetrator's reputation is often put ahead of the harm they have caused and the impact that this has on the abuse survivor.
"When we choose to prioritise the fact that someone is good at sport over the abuse and harm they have inflicted on women, it sends a devastating message to the person they have harmed and to every survivor of domestic abuse and sexual violence,” Ms Love added.
McLean was suspended by Glasgow Warriors when he was arrested over a violent campaign of domestic abuse against his then-partner.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that the then-22-year-old had kept a tracker service on her phone, dictated what she could wear and left her with a split lip and black eye from pushing her.
He further called her a “bitch and a slut” and sent her abusive text and social media messages.
The rugby player demanded passwords for her social media accounts and challenged her if they were changed.
McLean, then a winger with Glasgow Warriors, pleaded guilty at a court hearing to abusive behaviour between April 2019 and January 2021.
Although his lawyer pushed the court for an absolute discharge, McLean was sentenced to a community payback order with 120 hours of unpaid work.
He was also made subject to a non-harassment order to not contact her for 10 years.
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