Michael Livingstone (Sumo) 13 August 1966 – 23 May 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing this morning of Sumo after a long and brave battle against bowel cancer. He was told earlier this year that the treatment he had been receiving for the last five years had not proved successful and carried that news quietly, and with great strength and dignity, knowing he didn’t have long left. 

Sumo was a club stalwart having joined from Heriot’s school in 1984. Like older brothers Douglas ( Sheep) and Graham he already knew the club and its characters well, having followed the club at home and away matches and sevens tournaments as he grew up.

From the start he fully immersed himself in everything to do with Heriot’s. He played 10 times for the first xv as an 18 year old prop and continued playing regularly for the first xv on both sides of the front row for the following 14 seasons. In spite of his size he was incredibly mobile with great hands and an outrageous dummy and a rugby brain that he lent to many club seven a side teams. He played for the Edinburgh district team on a number of occasions and made the bench for the 1994 Scotland trial.

Unfortunately he didn’t get the chance to prove himself that day although he never complained that the prop selected ahead of him eventually proved not to have been eligible to play for Scotland at all and ended up gaining a number of caps. 

After retiring from playing, Sumo took his place behind the posts in the “Goldie jungle” and rarely missed watching a match, home or away. He served on the committee and as club secretary for a period but his efforts were best served vocally supporting whatever team he watched and taking to task any referee or touch judge who’s interpretation of the laws didn’t quite equate with his!

Although vocal at the side of a pitch Sumo was otherwise a quiet, humble and modest person. He was never one for fuss or singing his own praises and anyone around him that did would be subject to his own brand of gentle chiding. He was revered across Scotland as a rugby player but also respected and highly valued as a person by all who knew him. 

Our thoughts are with his wife Rosie and children Donald and Kirsty and the wider family at this time.

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