RUGBY
The foundation of a mindset forged through teamwork, resilience and nine seasons at the top of Scottish club rugby.Glasgow Hawks RFC 1997–2008
Before Everest. Before the Marathon des Sables. Before mental toughness became the focus of my work, there was rugby.
Many of the lessons that have shaped my life—handling pressure, earning trust, adapting to change and putting the team before yourself—were learned on cold, wet Saturday afternoons in a Glasgow Hawks jersey.
I was extremely fortunate to be part of one of the most successful periods in the club's history.
Although my first-team career spanned nine seasons between 1999 and 2008, my connection with Glasgow Hawks began even earlier. In July 1997, I was a member of the very first Hawks team to take the field at the Fettes Touch Tournament, just weeks after the club was formed. Hawks had formed on 6th June 1997, following simultaneous meetings of GHK RFC and Glasgow Academicals RFC held at Old and New Anniesland respectively.
Versatility
“More importantly, they brought lifelong friendships and memories that continue to shape me today.”
Over the next decade I represented the Glasgow Hawks 1st XV in every backline position except scrum-half, adapting wherever the team needed me most. Whether at stand-off, centre, wing or full-back, versatility became one of my greatest strengths.
During those nine seasons I was fortunate to:
Win three consecutive Scottish Premiership titles
Win two Scottish Cups
Play in three Scottish Cup Finals at Murrayfield
Represent Glasgow District at Under-19, Under-21 and Senior level
Join the Glasgow Warriors professional backup squad in season 2003/04
An unbeaten tour of South Africa
Recognition with Glasgow Hawks' Outstanding Service Award at the club's 10th Anniversary Dinner
The Journey
My first-team debut came during the 1999/2000 season against Jed-Forest at Riverside Park.
At 22 years old I was handed the number 10 jersey and asked to start at stand-off. I scored a brace of tries on debut, but success on the outside often masked a very different story on the inside. The self-confidence that many assumed I possessed simply wasn't there. It was a legacy of childhood experiences that would take many years to fully understand. Although I moved from stand-off into the midfield early in my first-team career, the real journey wasn't about changing position—it was learning, gradually, to believe in myself.
Within months I found myself running out at Murrayfield in my first Scottish Cup Final, playing outside centre against Boroughmuir in front of a crowd of 20,000 people, with the match shown live on BBC Scotland, with commentary from the legendary Bill McLaren.
As a young rugby fan, playing on the main Murrayfield pitch had always been a dream. Walking out in front of 20,000 spectators - in the footsteps of my heroes - was a moment I'll never forget.
It was an unforgettable introduction to senior rugby.
Starting at inside centre, I positioned myself under our posts at kick-off. Unexpectedly, the kick-off came straight to me, which settled my nerves.
Although as a Premier 1 team we were favourites, Boroughmuir were coached by the legendary Sean Lineen and had won Premier 2 convincingly.
Indiscipline cost us - with three yellow cards - and Boroughmuir went on to win comfortably 35-10.
The following years saw Glasgow Hawks establish themselves as the dominant force in Scottish club rugby.
In 2003, I travelled with the club on an unbeaten tour of South Africa, competing against very strong club opposition while representing Hawks overseas. We defeated Tygerberg RFC, Wanderers RFC & Villager RFC. Looking back, that unbeaten tour became a turning point. The belief and togetherness we developed in South Africa carried us into the following three seasons, when we won three consecutive national championships.
The 2003/04 season proved especially memorable.
Alongside joining the Glasgow Warriors professional backup squad, I completed the Marathon des Sables, a 250-kilometre ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert. Having lost almost ten kilograms of body weight crossing the Sahara, I found myself back at Murrayfield, coming off the bench at centre as Hawks defeated Dundee HSFP to complete the Scottish Cup and Premiership double.
Between 2004 and 2006, the club achieved three consecutive Premiership titles—an accomplishment that remains one of the defining eras in Scottish club rugby history, and the first time in 80 years that a club from Glasgow has achieved this honour.
The third championship was secured at Meggetland on 25 February 2006, where I scored the decisive try from the right wing to seal the title. Having suffered defeat by Boroughmuir at Murrayfield 6 years previously, Hawks had come full circle.
One year later came another career highlight.
Starting at outside centre in the 2007 Scottish Cup Final, I helped Hawks defeat Edinburgh Accies to lift the trophy for the second time during my career.
I spent the following two nights in Monklands Hospital, having cracked my sternum in the closing stages - but the pain was more than worth it.
Just a few days later I was strapping on my rucksack to complete the West Highland Way for the first time.
2004: Glasgow Hawks v Hawick
2003: Glasgow Hawks v Biggar
2007: Glasgow Hawks v Ayr
2007: Glasgow Hawks v Glasgow Warriors
2004: Glasgow Hawks v Hawick
Career Highlights
Founding Glasgow Hawks player – Member of the first-ever Hawks team, Fettes Touch Tournament (1997)
Glasgow Hawks 1st XV – Nine consecutive seasons (1999–2008)
Scottish Premiership 1 Champion – 2004, 2005, 2006
Scottish Cup Winner – 2004, 2007
Scottish Cup Runner-up – 2000
Glasgow District Representative – Under-19, Under-21 and Senior
Glasgow Warriors – Professional backup squad (2003/04)
Unbeaten South Africa Tour – 2003
Outstanding Service Award – Glasgow Hawks 10th Anniversary Dinner (2008)
Played every backline position except scrum-half
Memorable Moments
1990 Grand Slam heroes – I had the great privilege of playing against some of my own heroes, including:
Craig Chalmers (Melrose), Gary Armstrong (Jedforest) and Scott Hastings (Watsonians)
Best Opponent – I played directly opposite Chris Paterson (Gala) at the Kelso Sevens before he went on to become Scotland's record points scorer
Scottish Internationals - playing against Doddie Weir & George Graham in a pre-season match against Newcastle Falcons. Playing against Tom Smith v Watsonians RFC
Future Internationals - playing alongside future Scotland internationals, including Tom Philip, Graeme Morrison, Andy Henderson, Euan Murray & Richie Gray, along with former international wings Rory Kerr & James Craig
Scottish Cup Semi-final, 2000 – Hawks demolished Gala in the semi-final to reach our second (and my first) cup final
2003 South Africa Tour – Legends were born and this created the foundation for our hat-trick of league titles
Glasgow Warriors – Being selected for the professional backup squad (2003/04) and scoring a try against Warriors in a hard-fought draw in 2007
2006: Scottish Cup final
More Than Rugby
Looking back, the medals and trophies are only part of the story.
Rugby taught me how to perform under pressure, recover from setbacks, adapt to different roles, and commit to something bigger than myself. Those lessons became the foundation for everything that followed—from completing some of the world's toughest endurance events, to leading global finance teams, to helping organisations and individuals develop resilience and mental toughness today.
The rugby career didn't simply come before the expeditions and the speaking career.