Try the latest rugby quiz from our friends at Rugby Memories.

They have also added a special tribute to Sandy Carmichael who passed away recently. Sandy was an ambassador for Rugby memories and did much to promote the organisation. Its such a lovely piece I share it here

Sandy Carmichael MBE

There have been some glowing tributes to Sandy from every part of the Rugby world and all of them focus on his glittering Rugby career and his outstanding personal qualities. We in Rugby Memories saw another side to Sandy, and it was truly inspirational. He first got involved as a friend of the late David Shedden and he demonstrated all his qualities of compassion, caring and genuine empathy for a former colleague who was struggling with memory problems. We had found the best possible ambassador for Rugby Memories.

Wherever we went, Sandy was instantly recognised, warmly welcomed and hugely respected. He quickly immersed himself in the company of rugby players past and present and showed that same warm connection with older players who were maybe struggling a little with memory issues.

On a personal level, I loved our times with him in The Trust Inn in Kilbarchan where he regaled Lynne, Les, Neil and myself with tales of tours with the Lions and the Babb-Baas, as well as some great stories of his fifty games in the navy blue of Scotland. I still smile when I think of some of them, especially the collapsing marquee at the Embassy Reception and the impromptu central heating system made from cardboard boxes which saw the local fire and police services summoned to the team hotel.. He was held in high esteem by all the greats in those Lions teams from 1971 and 1974, and it was a mark of respect that they all phoned him when he was in hospital at the time of one of their reunions.

When we met some of these famous players at other events, without exception, they all enquired after Sandy and asked to be remembered to him. He was a true legend, in an age when that epithet is given all too easily. He will be impossible to replace and I know of few people who were held in such respect that it was almost a kind of reverence. International players of later generations were in awe of him and I know of many club players who named Sandy as their boyhood hero.

Despite all his many health problems in his later years, he never once refused to attend an event, take a call or miss a chance to meet Rugby people and talk about the game. We had so many laughs together and he certainly will never, ever, be forgotten by anyone who saw him play or was in his company.

All of us in Rugby Memories send all our best wishes to Sandy’s family and many friends. Rest in Peace Sandy, and thanks for sharing all these wonderful memories with us.