Millions of rugby fans around the world will tune in tonight as the Rugby World Cup kicks off at Twickenham. But SSE’s Iwan Tukalo, better known for his exploits as a flying wing for Scotland, will know just what the players go through.
Iwan joined SSE a decade ago and is now Corporate Transformation Director, but fondly recalls playing in the inaugural World Cup in New Zealand back in 1987.
“It was a total unknown,” says Iwan. “It was the first ever Rugby World Cup and it was my first trip to New Zealand. I got my first taste of the Hakka and it was pretty intimidating to see the intensity of the All Blacks close up. It was a challenge you had to accept; but when I next faced the Hakka I just wanted to get on with the game.”
In 1987 Scotland were unlucky not to progress far after a 20-20 draw with France. France were deemed to have topped the group as they had scored a try earlier in that game; and so the All Blacks and all early exit beckoned for the Scots.
“That was a bit of a scunner for Scotland,” adds Iwan. “But later on Sean Fitzpatrick said of all the home nations Scotland were the ones who put up a fight, so that was some consolation.”
Fast forward four years from 1987 to 1991 and Scotland were riding high after their famous 1990 Grand Slam and faced the auld enemy England at Murrayfield for a place in the final.
“It was pretty much the same team as the Grand Slam so we had a real chance of beating England in the semi-final at Murrayfield and meeting Australia in the final. We only lost by a couple of points [9-6] so that was a real opportunity.”
Iwan hung up his rugby boots a year later in 1992 but a career in the energy sector was a natural progression for him having joined British Gas as a graduate trainee many years earlier.
Iwan adds: “When I retired from rugby I was in my early thirties and it was hard to maintain the intensity and motivation. Perhaps winning the Grand Slam was our Everest and it was interesting that Pat Cash made a similar observation about Andy Murray winning Wimbledon for the first time. How do you keep going once you’ve reached the summit?”
Despite the highs of a glittering rugby career Iwan has firmly settled into life at SSE. “These days there tend to be no jobs for life but at SSE you get a unique opportunity to move across the business and take on a variety of challenges,” he adds.
“I started in training and development and have moved to health and safety as well as working on Greater Gabbard and IT. It’s been fantastic to have been afforded such diverse experiences in one organisation.”
So who is Iwan tipping for the World Cup, which SSE is co-sponsoring ITV’s coverage of? “It’s hard to look beyond the All Blacks because they have that winning mentality,” answers Iwan.
“But Scotland are catching up with how they cope with international rugby which is just so much more intense, with harder hits and less decision making time than at professional club level. Getting out of their group will be their first objective and the clash with Samoa will be the key match.”
This week Iwan also received a unexpected boost from his former rugby coach Jim Telfer who sat on a panel of experts which voted him as the man they would play on the left wing in their greatest ever Scotland XV in a feature by The Times.
“It was quite humbling to see that nomination,” he concludes. “In all my playing days under Jim he never said ‘well done’ but I guess that no comment meant he was satisfied! I’ll take it as a compliment – even 25 years later!”