Scotsman Obituaries: Ian McCrae, Scottish international rugby player

Affectionally nicknamed “Spivvy”, he was a driving force of Aberdeen’s Gordonians club through more than four decades and also represented North and Midlands District over 20 years, while a special honour was being selected eight times for the Barbarians.

In addition to his six caps, he also played against touring South Africa, Australia and New Zealand XVs, the latter four times. At scrum half he was the heartbeat of all the teams he represented, his endless energy, skill and never-say-die mentality proving inspirational. Many thought he would have earned more caps if he had played for a more fashionable club in the Central Belt or Borders.

An all-round sportsman, he was also a successful cricketer, as opening bat and wicket keeper for Stoneywood Cricket Club in the top division of the Aberdeen Grades. As a youngster he was a talented footballer who played a few games for Arbroath reserves and attracted Aberdeen’s attention but – according to the story – their interest ceased when Spivvy told them he would need Saturday afternoons off to play rugby.

Ian George McCrae was born in Bucksburn to parents George and Georgina, older brother of Sheila. His father was a paper mill worker. Ian first attended Bucksburn primary school where friends nicknamed him Spivvy, as his mother always insisted he was very smartly turned out. The nickname stuck as some of those friends accompanied him to Robert Gordon’s College.

The College signalled the start of his rugby career. Later he commented: “I reckon I got a special thrill out of being able to mix it with bigger guys, I was small and skinny but I could tackle and threw myself at everything and everybody.”

He settled on playing scrum half, in his final year captaining the 1st XV and being selected as reserve for Scottish Schools against England.

After leaving school Ron Glasgow, his former PE teacher, asked him to play for Gordonians 1sts because of an injury crisis, leading in 1959 to him making his debut for the club he would continue representing until he was nearly 50.

In 1963/64 he was selected for a national trial and became a regular for North and Midlands District. In 1965 he debuted for the Barbarians and played for Scottish Districts in a memorable win at Hawick over the touring South Africans, with his international debut coming against England at Twickenham in 1967.

According to one report, "McCrae made a splendid debut, needle sharp in his breaks and diligent in defence.” Thereafter, against stiff competition from such as Alex Hastie, Gordon Connell and Duncan Paterson, he earned another five caps, the final one against New Zealand in 1972. And in 1969 he made history against France in Paris when he came on after a few minutes as Scotland’s replacement for the injured Connell, the first in international rugby in the northern hemisphere.

With the advent of National Leagues in 1973 Gordonians began in the lower divisions, but by the late Seventies reached the top tier, in no small part due to Spivvy’s contribution.

Their unforgettable win inspired by him in Aberdeen at a packed Seafield over top side Hawick in 1981 put the seal on the club’s upward climb. Chris Snape, club and District teammate and a fellow Barbarian, recalled: “As a team we just followed him, he was a superb athlete with bags of energy. A lovely guy with no ego, he was the best I ever played with or against.”

He continued playing recreationally until he was 60 or so for the Aberdeen Strollers, a veterans’ team which enjoyed trips to Canada, Ireland and England, as well as local fixtures.

On the cricket square he played for more than 40 years, captaining Stoneywood for several seasons as well as being a long term secretary/treasurer and even groundsman. With Spiffy at the helm, numerous league titles and cups were won as he contributed centuries and collected individual awards for best batting averages and outstanding wicket keeper. He captained Aberdeenshire Grades Select XI to success in the Three Counties Cup several times.

Spiffy was a great outdoors enthusiast who loved camping and hillwalking, eventually climbing all the Munros and Corbetts. For good measure he also achieved the equivalent feat in England, Wales and Ireland.

Always up for a challenge and keeping fit, he ran two marathons and aged 60 completed the gruelling Lairig Ghru race over punishing terrain between Braemar and Aviemore, reaching heights of over 2,600 feet in places. Other interests included ornithology and music – he was a self taught pianist who played by ear – and a member of Aberdeen’s Gaelic Choir.

Away from the sporting arena Ian worked in insurance, initially in motor claims and then as an insurance loss adjuster for Aberdeen road haulage company Charles Alexander, having obtained his Chartered Insurance Institute qualifications.

In August 1964 he married childhood sweetheart Margaret Watt at Ruthrieston Church, Aberdeen. During their happy marriage they had Ritchie and Catriona, whose sons Caelan, Murray and Finlay were much-loved grandchildren.

An Aberdeen legend to many, Ian was a very popular and sociable individual who wore his celebrity lightly and enjoyed the respect and affection of everyone. He is survived by his children, sister and grandchildren, his wife having predeceased him in 2002.

Obituaries

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