Millar given award for spinal injury charity cycle

FORMER Scotland under-21 back row David Millar was the first recipient of a new award presented yesterday by the Bill McLaren Foundation.

The Foundation, launched earlier this year to help to create a rugby legacy in honour of the legendary BBC commentator, commissioned a unique 'Spirit of Rugby' award to mark Millar's achievement this year in returning to New Zealand, where he suffered a spinal injury playing rugby in 1989, and raised more than 30,000 to aid the cause of spinal research by completing a quite incredible 250-mile hand-cycle across the South Island.

Lifelong friend and former Scotland winger Roger Baird yesterday attended the annual lunch of the Scottish Rugby Writers Club at the Dalmahoy Hotel on Millar's behalf. He received the new award sculpted by Hawick-based Scottish Borders Art Glass from Linda Lawson, McLaren's daughter, who had broken the news to Millar last week.

"It was great to speak with David – he is a wonderful character. This is a great award that recognises the spirit David retains for the game of rugby and the effort he is putting into helping people injured in this way," she said.

Dan Parks was also voted the Scottish Rugby Writers Club Player of the Season for 2010-11 at the annual lunch. The Glasgow stand-off resurrected his international career to the extent of securing three man of the match awards from his four games in the recent RBS Six Nations Championship, and scored the winning penalty against Ireland.

The stand-off was unavailable to receive the award due to Glasgow duties before he prepares to head south to join Cardiff, but John Rutherford, the ex-Scotland and British and Irish Lions fly-half, collected it on his behalf.