PLAYER PROFILE : GARY ARMSTRONG. BORN: 30/9/66 BIRTHPLACE: Edinburgh HEIGHT: 5’8" WEIGHT: 13st 8lb POSITION: Scrum half.

The Scotland captain and Newcastle scrum half was educated at Dunfirmline High School.

After playing for Jedforest, leaving his brother Kevin behind, Gary joined Newcastle in 1995. He not only plays a major part in Newcastle’s first XV, but has created a vital link for Scotland on over 30 occasions, captaining his country in many internationals. His first being in December 1988, v’s Australia. The next year he was called up to the British Lions to play in Australia along side team mate Rob Andrew.

Within two years he had played in the World Cup and won the Grand Slam with Scotland. Again he has been called up to play in Scotland's 1998 World Cup qualifying matches.

In 1993/4, he had followed up his skills at scrum half to play both fly half and centre despite suffering serious knee damage in 1992 and 1994. Not only had he been recognised by the British Lions and Scotland selectors, but was soon invited to play for the Barbarians. In the 1997/8 season, he had helped Newcastle with a total of 75 points and in the first 3 months of the 98/9 season he scored 35 points and captained the side on a number of occasions after Dean Ryan's injury and departure.

For the 1999 Five Nations Gary was called up to the scrum half first XV and captaincy after Brian Redpath was injured before their first match and it is now a matter of history that the Scots went on to take the Championship ..... mainly due to a certain Welsh centre! (Next time we will beam you up Scotty).

Gary went on to Captain the Scots again on their 1999 summer tour to South Africa and win player of the season at Newcastle.

After captaining Scotland during the 1999 World Cup he announced his retirement from International rugby following Scotland's quarter-final defeat by New Zealand. He was capped 51 times by his country and Jim Telfer, Scottish Coach (who also retired on the same day) called Gary "the bravest player I have ever seen".

His bravery and skill saw him awarded Newcastle's player of the season over 1998/9 for the second year in succession. The 1999/2000 season began badly for Gary when he broke his collar bone when he was late tackled by London Wasps winger Paul Sampson at Loftus Road on October 31st. Sampson went unpunished but has subsequently moved to Rugby League (as a Newcastle fan I can easily say that he can stay there). We saw Gary's return in Newcastle's first league win of the season against Sale on December 29th.

Gary was awarded the OBE for his services to rugby in the 1999/2000 New Years Honours list, officially announced on December 31st 1999.