We are used to seeing Scotland star Stuart Hogg strutting his stuff at BT Murrayfield, but on Saturday his older brother Graham is set to be in action at the national stadium aiming to help Greenock Wanderers win some silverware.
Hogg senior, now 31, made his name with local club Hawick and with the Scotland Sevens team a few years ago.
In recent seasons family life has taken over and work took him to the west and he has been loving being part of the great season that the Wanderers are having.
Indeed with the men’s team playing in the Shield final against Berwick in the main stadium at 1.15pm and the women’s side from Fort Matilda playing in their own Bowl on the back pitches at 3.30pm a large contingent of Greenock supporters are set to make the trip through to the capital on ‘Silver Saturday’.
And there will more than likely be some fans travelling up from Hawick to lend their support to Graham and Greenock in their big match.
“The last time I was involved in finals day at Murrayfield I think I was a ball boy for Hawick in one of the Cup finals they won, so it has been quite a long time,” Hogg joked.
“Obviously I played a lot for Hawick and for Scotland Sevens in the past and I enjoyed that and was never sure if I would play elsewhere afterwards, but I have moved about a bit in recent years and I have found Greenock Wanderers to be a really good club with a good atmosphere.
“As any player over the age of 30 I have had a few tweaks and pains while the body cannot always do what the mind is telling it to these days, but I still like getting out there on the pitch and we have had some good results over the season.”
Greenock, with Hogg playing at stand-off or inside centre when he has been available, won the West Regional Shield back in December when they defeated Dalziel in the final 23-12.
That took them through to the national Shield and a semi-final triumph over Strathmore by 21-20 got them to the big day in six days time.
They have also been in the running for the West League Division One title for most of the campaign and Hogg added: “Obviously I have watched Stuart play at Murrayfield loads so it will be nice to get a run out there myself if selected.”
Steven Haldane, vice-president of rugby at Greenock, has been impressed with what Hogg has brought to the team this season.
“In recent times a number of experienced guys have come back to Greenock like Brendan McGroarty and when you add Graham into that mix then it has really helped us,” he stated.
“With Graham and Brendan both being good communicators in the backline and also both being able to see gaps and things going on that maybe others cannot it has brought the young players on around them no end.
“The younger guys look up to them and the great thing for us as a club is that someone like Graham has enjoyed it enough to keep coming back and has shown great commitment around work and family life so that is brilliant.
“After Silver Saturday we have one final league match to go and then Graham has hinted he may be retiring, so let’s hope we can send him off with a winners medal.”
And Hogg concluded: “As things stand I will be hanging the boots up after this season so it would be nice to end things on a high note.”
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