In 2013 Edinburgh created an award and a trophy to go with it to honour and mark the retiral of Allan ‘Chunk’ Jacobsen.
The Caullie Lug is unique in terms of it’s design having been fashioned from a mould of Jacobsen’s own caullie lug or cauliflower ear for those that don't speak the lingo.
The prop was the inspiration and maiden recipient of that award, initially intended to be “presented to the player who has shown commitment and service to the Club over a number of years”.
He certainly epitomised those ideals. A local man, from Tranent, he made 286 appearances for Edinburgh spanning over a decade. A product of Preston Lodge rugby club he never pulled on a jersey for any professional club bar Edinburgh.
On his retirement from rugby he returned to his trade as a plumber.
A high bar indeed for anyone following in his footsteps and the next two Caullie Lug winners, Roddy Grant and Ross Ford, were of that ilk. Appearances in the 100’s. Understated yet committed. One club men (almost). Consistent performers.
The full list is below-
2013 - Allan Jacobsen
2014 - Roddy Grant
2015 - Ross Ford
2016 - Anton Bresler
2017 - Hamish Watson
2018 - Neil Cochrane
2019 - Darcy Graham
2020 - Pierre Schoeman
2021 - Luke Crosbie
The first thing you may notice is that it’s a list of some very special players. Then you may notice it has been awarded every year. To my mind this is not the player of the year award and shouldn’t necessarily be awarded annually.
That’s not to say that all the winners have to be like Chunk or Fordy in terms of longevity or appearances but at the same time it shouldn't be awarded to someone in their first year as a professional rugby player. Not many players make it to 3 figures for club appearances but shouldn't we set the bar a little higher than say 30 caps?
I’m not trying to disparage any of the winners. I rate them all as players and all have given of their best whether it was in black and red or blue and burnt orange.
If the more recent winners were awarded an official player of the season trophy I wouldn’t bat an eyelid but the Caullie Lug should be unique for more than it’s quirky design. It should only be presented when someone is identified as having those attributes of longevity and dedication. That may be every year. It may be every decade.
This year's winner, Luke Crosbie is a great up and coming abrasive player with a big personality who is
blossoming despite the presence of Scotland stalwarts Watson and Ritchie. He has 57 appearances
for the club over 4 years. If he stays at Edinburgh long term he could very well be in Ross Ford territory.
However, recent retiree Fraser Mckenzie can point to 119 club appearances for Edinburgh over a split
10 year spell. Cockers said of him on his arrival as Edinburgh coach,
“He was in t-shirt and shorts, had a really good suntan and was slightly overweight. He was just in
pretty shit nick”
But within a couple of short months the same man made him Edinburgh captain and he was a fixture in
the team when many others were off seeking international honours with Scotland.
That sounds more like a Caullie Lug winner to me and not because Crosbie did anything wrong. He j
ust hasn’t been around long enough yet.
My plea then if you haven’t already worked it out is this. Let the Caullie Lug be an award that really
honours its’ inspiration and original intent. that is only given when someone presents themself that if
not quite actually Chunk they are pretty close.
Award it when it’s really really merited and not just because it's June.
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