A FORMER rugby star who was capped retrospectively more than 40 years after representing his country is gearing up for a gruelling challenge.

Ken Macaulay was part of the Scotland squad which lined up against a French select in Bordeaux in April 1980.

Earlier this year, the former North Berwick second row was awarded his Scotland cap at a ceremony at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

The cap came as part of the retrospective international project which saw 75 male players awarded retrospective caps, making Ken the 1,215th player to be capped by Scotland.

The initiative got him back in touch with old rugby friends and ignited a spark to give something back to the game he loves.

Next Saturday (October 5), the 66-year-old will take on the challenge of raising £1,215 for four charities close to him through a gruelling 1,020-mile cycle which will see him visit the 76 clubs across Scotland which he played at.

He said: “I’ve been told I’m mad, I’m bonkers.

“People who know a lot more about cycling than me have told me that I should be doing six months’ worth of training before I attempt something like this.”

The former Gala, Heriot’s and North Berwick player will set off from Netherdale in Galashiels.

He has chosen to support Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland, Prostate Scotland, Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Ken, who played his first game for North Berwick in 1993 and his final game in 2006, with a spell coaching Musselburgh in between, said: “I’d been wanting to do something for Chest, Heart and Stroke for a while.

“It was a stroke that killed my father and I’ve been wanting to do something on his behalf for a long time, so it felt right.

“Having had examinations in the past, I’m all too aware that Prostate Scotland need to raise awareness.

“I played rugby for a long time, longer than most people, 30 years.

“I was very lucky to be largely injury free and I want to put something into the pot of the Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation for those who are not as fortunate.

“Doddie inspired us all and there has been some fantastic people who’ve raised funds for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation – I wanted to do my bit too.”

The route will see him start in the Scottish Borders, into Dumfries and Galloway, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, the Highlands, Aberdeen, Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Fife, Stirling, Edinburgh, East Lothian, Berwickshire and finish back in the Scottish Borders.

On the fourth day, Ken, who worked for the Bank of Scotland, will have his longest cycle in one day from Lanark to Ardrossan (with a stop at Ayr), which will be 71.3 miles.

Day 19 will see Ken, who now lives on the Isle of Lewis, enter East Lothian and visit Musselburgh, Preston Lodge, Ross High, Haddington and North Berwick.

The following day will see him pedal from North Berwick to Berwick, via Dunbar.

Ken will not be alone in his challenge – his son Richard whom he played alongside at North Berwick, will join him for some of his rides alongside fellow retrospective cap recipients Stewart MacAslan, Grant Wilson, Johnny Robertson and Mark Moncrieff. 

He said: “At the start and at the finish, I will have Finlay Calder with me, he’s been very good at bullying other people into joining me!

“The last day, Gary Armstrong will be with me and my son will do the first couple of days too.” 

Scotland internationalists and British and Irish Lions players Calder and Armstrong, Derek White and Iwan Tukalo will also join him, along with those from the club game, including Robert Ritchie and Danny Waldman (North Berwick) and current Scottish Rugby Union vice-president Keith Wallace (Haddington).

He said: “Everyone who is cycling with me is much fitter than me and will have done more training than me!” 

Ken’s cycling challenge will finish back in Galashiels on October 26.

To make a donation, go to donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kens-retrospective-challenge