STEWART MUSTARD, the longest-serving player in the Heriot's squad, has been given the honour of captaining the team in tonight's special 125th anniversary match against the Barbarians.
The front-row man has been with the Goldenacre club since he left George Heriot's School back in 1998 and with regular captain Jack Turley not involved in this match Mustard will lead the team out from hooker.
Mustard, 34, started out his rugby playing days with North Berwick minis when he was a mere pup and remained there until the under-12 age group before making the transition to Heriot's.
He said: "My dad had played, my brother played and at the time all my friends were playing. I went to George Heriot's School in P7 so progressed from there straight into the club."
As a young player starting to make his way in the senior game he played for Edinburgh under-19s and under-21s and went to the FIRA event in 1999 Wales with Scotland under-19.
He remembers being pretty nervous when he made his Heriot's first XV debut in 1998/99 against Musselburgh. Since then, he has experienced a gamut of emotions.
"Highlights are the league wins, cup wins and maintaining Heriot's top flight status - along with the incredible amount of people I've met along the way both on the pitch and on the social side," he recounts. "Lowlights are the years we've struggled in the league and the Cup final loss in 2008 to Melrose. That said, the years we've flirted with relegation but stayed up brings it own sense of achievement and camaraderie.
Over the years, Mustard has played with some top-quality players, a number of whom have gone on to reach the international ranks.
"There's a massive list of guys whom I've learned from both in terms of skills and their approach to rugby. When I was starting out, guys like Donald Shand and Jocky Bryce taught me a lot about what senior rugby was all about. Gregor Lawson, Bruce Douglas, Apo Satala, Graham Wilson, Jamie Syme, Marc Teague are all guys who've done things a little bit differently and break the mould in their own way. There's also a lot of individually skilful players in the current squad, which is great to see."
On the prospect of facing the Barbarians, Mustard added: "We are all buzzing about this match. To get to play such a high-profile team on our own patch is something that not everyone gets the chance to do. We will be looking to make the most of it."
Iain Milne, the former Scotland prop who famously played for the Barbarians alongside his brothers Kenny and David, is now the vice-president at Heriot's.
He and the committee have done a lot in the run-up to the match and he said: "Everything is shaping up well for a cracking day.
"A lot of people have been working hard to get things ready for this big occasion and that has been brilliant to see. The club has come together and it makes me proud to be a part of it all.
"I have been too busy getting things organised to think too much about what this match means, but I have been involved with the club for a long time and when I see a packed Goldenacre enjoying this match I am sure I will be pretty emotional."
With the professional season across Europe ongoing it has proved to be an onerous task for the Barbarians to ensure players were released for this match, but it says something about the draw of the famous old name that they have managed to put a relatively strong squad together.
They will be coached by Sean Lineen while former Scotland caps Gordon Ross and Bruce Douglas - who both had stints at Heriot's - are included in the 22-man party.
Others to keep an eye on include Edinburgh Rugby duo Cornell du Preez and Grayson Hart along with Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Ali Price and Newcastle Falcons Scotland cap Scott MacLeod.
Tickets are available on the gate for tonight's match at Goldenacre which kicks off at 6pm
Heriot's Glenn Bryce; Harry Boisseau, Liam Steele, Max Learmonth, Colin Goudie; Stuart Edwards, Graham Wilson; Nathan Borel, Stewart Mustard, Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Jamie Syme, Jamie Ritchie, Jason Hill, Jack McLean. Subs: Davy McGregor, JP Ward, Be Cogley, Chris Mulligan, David Sommerville, Gregor McNeish, Keith Buchan, Charlie Simpson.
Barbarians (from): Aled Thomas, Alex Rae, Ali Price, Aston Croall, Bruce Douglas, Chris Morgan, Chris Jones, Chrysander Botha, Cornell du Preez, Darran Harris, Garyn Smith, Gordon Ross, Grayson Hart, Ian Mckinley, James Prichard, Joshua Adams, Laurie McGlone, Martin Garcia-Vega, Matt Hankin, Scott MacLeod, Sireli Naqelevuki, Titi Lamositele.
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