Peeblesshire News | Sport | David makes mark for Scotland

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 24th November, 2006 11:34

David makes mark for Scotland

By Atholl Innes

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PEEBLES Rugby Club has its first own internationalist after David Brown made his debut for Scotland last weekend.

What is more remarkable, however, is that David is deaf.

The 21-year-old turned out for the Scottish Deaf team which lifted the Kolkata Cup – their prize after an exciting 27-all draw against their English counterparts at Braidholm.

David was delighted to be part of the team and won praise from his colleagues at Peebles.

“It is a great honour for David, for the club and for the town,” said former Peebles president Allan Beveridge.

David (21) started playing rugby when he was just seven years old with Dan Ward and has always played for Peebles.

“Dan and the other coaches at the Minis made me what I am now,” he said.

‘Then I moved up to Juniors, which often trained by Phil Slaney. After that it was Peebles Colts and then the senior teams.”

David said that he was “overwhelmed and really pleased to play for his country” though he turned out for the development deaf team nearly four years ago.

“It was great. I was full of pride and passion when I put on the Scotland kits.”

But does he cope with his deafness on the field?

“I've got the very wide field of vision unlike hearing people, plus some instincts.”

David, who is a joiner with Eddie Fraser Joiners in Innerleithen, also plays football and competes at mountain biking.

Three years ago, he came 10th at Scottish Championships at Fort William. (current mountain biker Gary Forrest is his cousin so he tags along with him).

David’s vision for the future? “I want to be a regular for the Peebles 1st and for the 2nd XV and to win them cups — and play for Scottish Deaf Rugby till my legs don't work anymore!”

Scottish Deaf Rugby’s next international is against their Welsh counterparts, the reigning deaf world champions, in Edinburgh in February over the weekend of the Scotland v Wales RBS 6 Nations international.

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