Danny Herrington

Danny Herrington (25 August 1960 in Tillicoultry, Scotland – 26 May 2005) was a Scotland A international rugby union footballer. His rugby career spanned the amateur and professional era. He played at Tighthead Prop.

Amateur career

He started playing rugby with amateur club Hillfoots RFC. Both Herrington and John Manson came through the clubs ranks at the same time. Herrington, Manson and 'Budgie' Cairney formed a front row partnership affectionately deemed the 'Tillicoultry Troglodytes'.

From Hillfoots, Herrington moved to Dundee HSFP, along with Manson and Cairney. He was a key member of the Dundee squad and drove the club back into Scottish rugby's top amateur division.

Herrington's impeccable technique in the scrum was such that Scotland's then Director of Rugby Jim Telfer asked him to pass on his knowledge to younger props.

He would later move to play for Kirkcaldy RFC.

Provincial and professional career

North and Midlands

He first played for the amateur district North and Midlands in 1990. It was the first Inter-District championship that North and Midlands or Caledonia Reds had won outright and qualified Caledonia Reds to the Heineken Cup.

Glasgow Warriors

Caledonia Reds folded in 1998 as the SRU cost cut. However Danny's days as a professional player were not yet over. In 2000, he answered Richie Dixon's injury problems by turning out for Glasgow Warriors, then known as Glasgow Caledonians. He made an appearance from the bench against Bridgend RFC and started against Neath RFC in Welsh-Scottish League matches towards the end of 1999-2000 season. He made his Warriors debut at 39 years old and was a grandfather. From his date of birth to 12 February 2000 is 39 years 5 months and 18 days on Warriors debut; and his last Warriors appearance he was aged 39 years 8 months and 18 days; currently the record for Warriors oldest ever player.

International career

It was while Herrington was with Dundee that he received his caps for Scotland A. He received 3 'A' caps in all:- against the All Blacks in 1993; in the victory over France A in Rennes in 1994 and the narrow loss to France A in 1995.

Tributes

Herrington died on 26 May 2005 after a long battle with cancer, aged 44 years old.