Scotland Rugby League Awards

Two of Scotland?s most exciting prospects received their Player of the Year Awards at a presentation ceremony after the Scotland v Australia Student International at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh last Sunday night. Glasgow Bulls winger Andy McPhail ? who scored with his first touch as a full international against Wales in October ? picked up the inaugural Roy Kinnear Award for Scotland Students Player of the Year. McPhail was one of six Napier University undergraduates in the Scotland Students side that lost 26-6 to the Aussies, McPhail setting up the home side?s only try with a trademark breakaway. The Glaswegian started the season in the Scotland Students side and after a prolific summer was promoted to the A team and eventually two full caps in the European Nations Cup.

The Roy Kinnear Award is named after the former Wigan and Great Britain star who also won Union caps for Scotland and the British Lions in the 1920s. His son was comedian Roy Kinnear Jr while grandson Rory is one of the nation?s highest-rated young stage actors, currently starring in smash hit 'Festen' in London?s West End.

Also receiving an honour was Heriot-Watt University back Dougie Flockhart, who won the Alan Tait Award as Scotland Under-19s Player of the Year. Flockhart was unable to play against Australia due to his rugby union commitments with Scottish Premiership side Currie, for whom he scored two tries in a headline-grabbing performance the previous day, something that was sure to have caught the attention of some of the illustrious names present, including Scotland RL and Whitehaven coach Steve McCormack, former Scotland Rugby Union legend Gavin Hastings and former North Queensland Cowboys boss Murray Hurst, now coach of Australia Universities.

Scotland Under-15 Player of the Year Davie Crangle was expected to receive his Nathan Graham Award at the Easterhouse Panthers JRLFC End of Season Presentation today from the retiring Scotland captain himself.