23-05-2025
Murrayfield at 100: Walking in the footsteps of Scotland great JB Nelson
Almost exactly 100 years since her late grandfather JB 'Jimmy' Nelson scored the first try at Murrayfield, Julie Beavan followed in his footsteps (up to a point) by stepping onto the hallowed turf before the recent men's Six Nations game against Wales.
There was no sublime hand-off of an opposition defender and canter under the posts, and certainly no championship title to toast, but Beavan still thrilled to her moment.
As part of the famous old stadium's centenary celebrations, the SRU had invited her to deliver the match ball alongside Emma Wassell, the Scotland lock who has recovered from treatment for a chest tumour in time to feature at the World Cup later this year.
As she strode out into the arena where Nelson touched
