A wealth of quality to choose from for Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame

• Scott and Gavin Hastings Pic: PA

The SRU will announce the inaugural 12 entrants into this new Hall of Fame at a gala dinner at Murrayfield Stadium on 4 November. Jeffrey, along with a panel of Ian McGeechan, Norman Mair, Chris Rea and John Beattie, was handed the task of coming up with a player from eight different eras, and the door was left open for the panel to choose four other nominees who were not necessarily players but deserved recognition.

The Scotsman today looks back on the recent eras - the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s - and next weekend turn the spotlight on the legendary figures of the early part of Scottish rugby history, We finish up with a third part in our exclusive Hall of Fame series that focuses on the potential candidates for special recognition, without yet revealing those to be honoured in the first year.

Jeffrey told us: "One thing that can be guaranteed is that there was plenty of choice, from eras when perhaps Scotland weren't as successful as others but we had very good players just as much as there was in times like the Grand Slam periods when the players became household names. It was very hard, no doubt, but I also found it very enjoyable, and enlightening when you got to study players from the wartime and early part of the century. Hopefully, it will prove to be a great launch next month and bring the spotlight back on to many players and other figures in our game that we should be very proud of."

2000s

Jeffrey explained that this section was one in particular that he hoped would develop over time because of rules imposed on the judging panel, notably that they could not select current players or Scottish Rugby Union employees.

"That has made this era a very difficult one to be honest," said Jeffrey. "When you consider that our terms of reference currently rule out people like Tom Smith, the current Edinburgh coach, Gregor Townsend, the Scotland backs coach, and people like Donna Kennedy and Chris Paterson - the first Scots to reach 100 caps - and Jason White who are all still playing, then it certainly narrowed it all down.

"It means we were essentially looking at the first few years of the 2000s only, but there were still some great characters and players who played crucial roles in some famous games for Scotland in that decade.I won't go into them because I think it may give the game away as to who we've picked, but the good thing is that this will evolve.

"We're also looking at the possibility of keeping the core of the selection panel the same each year but rotating one member to allow for some fresh input, and there will be scope for players not included this year to then come in. The debates aren't going to stop!"

1990s

"This period was great to look back on with a Grand Slam at the start of the decade and the Five Nations Championship success at the end, and we had some great players at the heart of them.

"We gave the public the chance to vote on this one and I think that was a great idea because it opens up the selection process to supporters who have watched the players and games with terrific passion and insight. So, you know the six we came up with for the public to vote on, and while there were definitely more that we debated and some we fought about leaving out, the six are quality individuals.

"Gavin and Scott Hastings are in there although they could have been in the 1980s - deciding that with many players was a challenge in itself. But we felt they played most of their rugby in the 1990s, so they got in there and what can I say that hasn't been said or written about the Hastings? I don't think I'll try.

"Gary Armstrong was a great scrum-half for Scotland and then you had Bryan Redpath taking on the mantle and, although he was different to Gary he was a great player and leader for us. Alan Tait was a fantastic player for Scotland and obviously did something no other Scot did, in playing League for Great Britain, union for the British and Irish Lions, scoring a load of tries at club and international level in both codes and winning championships at club and international level."

1980s

Jeffrey stated: "This was a tough era as you could imagine, with two Grand Slam teams at either end. The second Slam might have been in 1990 but the majority of the players in that team had been playing for Scotland for some time so you could almost shoehorn both teams into this decade. We tried to avoid that, but the quality to choose from was incredible.

"We had two Grand Slam captains in Jim Aitken and David Sole - then two Lions captains with Colin Deans and Fin Calder for a start. They were all great players for Scotland but also inspirational leaders in their own way, men who played a big role in leading Scotland to great successes.

"Then you look at people like Iain Milne, an absolute cornerstone of the Scottish pack for years, John Rutherford and Roy Laidlaw, who formed one of the best half-back partnerships ever to play for Scotland, and then, in my view, the best wing-forward ever to play for Scotland in David Leslie. We have picked someone but that's the calibre of person you're talking about and they all have a real claim to being inducted into the Hall of Fame.It might just take a while until they all get in!"

1970s

Looking back on the 1970s, when there was less success in Scottish rugby, but a stunning array of international talent, Jeffrey insisted: "This was perhaps one where there were more debates over players simply because it was not as clear-cut as there being a Grand Slam.

"People like Andy Irvine would be at the forefront of any era in our game and Ian McGeechan has to be considered as a player as well as a coach, while I have no doubt that Jim Renwick is one of the greatest players ever to have played for Scotland.

"Then you have current president Ian McLauchlan. He's been interested in how it's going - from a professional point of view of course. I've had no phone calls from him trying to persuade us - just some wads of cash!

"But then you look at the back-to-back wins over England that PC Brown inspired, the talents of his brother Gordon and other players that lit up the 1970s even if they didn't quite put together championship runs. When it comes to looking at individual players, the quality is clear irrespective of whether they were in successful teams, but being successful obviously helps.

"I would never say this was easy, but it was a great honour to be asked to sit on this panel and I hope that, when the names are finally announced, that people will feel that we will have done the game proud. But it will certainly stir a lot of debate; that's for sure."

• For more details about the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame, including how to purchase tickets, visit the Scottish Rugby website at www.scottishrugby.org