An MSP has offered to turn out for a hard-pressed Fife rugby club in its hour of need.
Murdo Fraser made the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Howe of Fife pick up a phone if they ever find themselves short of players again.
Club president and namesake Murdo Fraser took the politician at his word and extended an invitation to join the club’s veteran team, the Howe Knights.
That could now see the MSP join the squad at their Duffus Park home for a training session.
The Tory MSP said playing an actual match might see him “die from exhaustion”, but the Fifers remain hopeful they might cajole a match out of him.
Mr Fraser offered his services in the wake of a weekend mismatch that saw Blairgowrie RFC secure a near-record 172-0 win over a Howe side so depleted they needed to turn to their veterans, who agreed to play despite being two men short.
The Division 2 Midlands fixture was evidence of the struggle Scotland’s club rugby teams have finding players and led to the matter being raised in parliament.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said: “Well done to Blairgowrie for securing a record win but also to Howe of Fife for fielding a team despite being three players short and with all twelve in the latter stages of their rugby careers.
“Howe of Fife were left short due to injuries, first team call-ups and youth players being away but despite this the team showed tremendous spirit in putting out a team to play.
“If things get desperate again I’d like to remind them that I’m only a phone call away.
“It so happens that the president of Howe of Fife is also called Murdo Fraser and I would like to wish my namesake all the best for the remainder of the season.”
The Howe president, meanwhile said: “It would be great to see my namesake here at Duffus Park.
“If he was to come and join us I would pull on a pair of boots myself so that we would have two Murdo Frasers out there on the pitch.
“We all remember Boris (Johnson) playing rugby and flattening a child. While we wouldn’t be looking for him to replicate that here it would be great if he came along and played a role!”
Howe Knights player Struan Nimmo echoed the offer, saying: “The lads would love to have Murdo join us for training. He’d receive a warm welcome.”
The final score at Duffus Park last weekend was just short of the British record, set when the Welsh side Llanidloes defeated Holyhead 181-0 in 2011.