Special rugby tournament to be held in France in memory of Scotland international

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A special rugby tournament is to be held in France in memory of a Scottish international Eric Milroy

Eric 'Puss' MacLeod Milroy, who captained the national team in the last two games before the First World War, was one of 31 Scottish rugby internationals who were killed in action.

He joined the 9th Royal Scots and was later commissioned as an officer in the Black Watch, before being sent to the Western Front in October 1915.

Milroy, who hailed from Edinburgh, was killed at the Battle of Delville Wood on July 18, 1916, during 9th (Scottish) Division’s liberation of the village of Longueval.

He was 28 years old and was last seen trying to make his way through the woods in an attempt to help South African soldiers.

The village of Longueval is now home to the famous Pipers' Memorial statue.

The Challenge Eric MacLeod Milroy tournament will be held in Amiens over three days from Friday, February 10 to commemorate rugby veterans who fell in the First and Second World Wars.

It will be part of the annual series of tournaments organised by the Mémoire the Rugby Event in association with the European Veteran Rugby Association, with teams also invited to attend Scotland's Six Nations match against France in Paris on the Sunday afternoon.

Milroy, a chartered accountant, played scrum half for George Watson's College, Watsonians and Scotland, winning 12 caps between 1910 and 1914.

He captained his country against Ireland in Dublin in February 1914 and England at Inverleith in March 1914, with six members of that team going on to be killed in action.

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Eric 'Puss' MacLeod Milroy captained the national teaming the last two games before the war

In total, 31 current and former Scottish internationals lost their lives during the conflict, compared to 26 from England, 22 from France, 13 from Wales and New Zealand, 10 from Australia and nine from Ireland.

We have invited nations and regions that were part of this terrible battle

Patrick Caublot, Mémoire de Rugby Event

A spokesman for Scottish Rugby said they were aware of the tournament and were considering sending a representative along to represent the game's national body.

Patrick Caublot, president of the Mémoire de Rugby Event, said they were dedicating the tournament to Scotland through Milroy's memory.

He added: "It is tailored for eight teams as per the geographical position of the soldiers in the frontline during the Battle of the Somme. We have invited nations and regions that were part of this terrible battle to express our gratitude and to honour the fallen.

"The teams confirmed so far are Howe of Fife RFC from Cupar, the French sides of RC Amiens from Barathlètes and RC Lorient from Bretagne plus Rugby Flanders and Barbarians SUP'R XV which is for all the player who have no team or not enough players.

"There is also the Belgian team Nivelles and any others can sign up until the end of January as long as the players are over 35-years-old."

Mr Caublot explained the efforts of their allies during the war have not been forgotten and added: "We received the help of the Scots, the French from the Nord Pas-de-Calais, the Bretons who were replaces by Scots at Authuille and Belgians because the frontline extended all the way to their municipality of Ypres and the village of Messines. And let us not forget the Italians who fought in Aisne and our friends of the Big East who held the 2nd frontline of the Battle of Verdun.

"We feel the moral obligation to continue the memory of the brave rugby men and our younger generations must know and understand their sacrifice.

"That is why, to honour the memory of these rugby players who fell for our country, we decided to organise commemorative, sports and festive events and the Erick MacLeod Milroy tournament is one of them."

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He was last seen trying to make his way through woods to help South African soldiers

The weekend of sporting action also include a tour of the Delville Wood and an evening of Scottish music with a pipe band march plus a commemorative service before the chance to attend the France v Scotland game in Paris.

Last night a spokesman for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission said rugby was a powerful way of reminding younger generations that the men who went to both world wars were young men with their whole lives ahead of them.

He added: "There is a famous image of the last Scotland v England game before the First World War. Many of those men went to battle and never returned.

"We can engage with new generations by building a picture of these brave young soldiers with sporting background such as rugby to show these men we not that different to us. It seems as if the organisers of this tournament are thinking along the same lines.

"We are looking into building a virtual roll of honour of rugby players not just at the international level but also on the club level for a lasting legacy."

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