Speaker at GURFC anniversary event joked about ‘ugly lesbians giving birth’

Speakers have apologised after making sexist and homophobic speeches at a Glasgow University Rugby Football Club (GURFC) anniversary event.

80-year-old retired fertility expert Bobby Low allegedly joked about Scottish Rugby Union president "keeping her clothes on," while ex-rugby star Roger Baird reportedly identified the women's captain "for the sole purpose of implying that she had been made to get naked," The Scottish Sun Reports.

Bobby Low has since quit as the club's president, claiming he "couldn't be bothered with it," adding: "I think it was some of the university girls that were wanting to make an issue of it. As far as I was aware, it was a fun night, that’s the kind of evening it was."

The university has distanced itself from the event

The dinner was to mark the 150th anniversary of GURFC, and took place at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel.

59-year-old Roger, a former winger for the British Lions, was pelted with rolls after he made a jokes about the Japanese.

A student who heard the speeches told The Glasgow Tab: "I don't think anyone in the audience was enjoying the speeches.

"I don't understand how the speakers couldn't read the room. Nobody was laughing – everyone was just shocked."

Bobby Low allegedly introduced introduced Scottish Rugby Union president Dee Bradbury by promising she would "keep her clothes on."

He later made a comment about "ugly lesbians giving birth."

Criticising the speeches on Facebook, one student said of Bobby: "The gynaecologist/obstetrician thinks it’s fine two women have a baby but it’s a shame it’s always the ugly one, and who wouldn’t mind being OUR president because he finds us physically attractive."

Both men's and women's clubs have apologised, and said in a statement: "We would like to unreservedly apologise to those who attended the 150th anniversary dinner and who may have been offended by some of the speeches.

"As rugby clubs we were shocked and appalled at elements of the content which in no way reflect our values or beliefs."

Bobby Lowe told The Scottish Sun: "I was very surprised to hear about this, knowing my views on women. I love you lot, I couldn’t look after men.

"My business is women so I wouldn’t set out to offend any of them.

"I resigned from the club because I just thought it was easier, I couldn’t be bothered with it.

"I’m not sad, I was there 50 years. It is a world record."

Roger Baird has said he had "misjudged" the audience, adding: "I apologise for any offence caused.

"It wasn’t my intention to upset or insult anyone, and I regret misjudging the mood of the room.

"The remarks which seem to have caused particular offence relate to a long-standing nickname for people who come from the town of Selkirk and was in no way intended as a derogatory reference to Selkirk or Japanese people.

"Similarly, none of my speech was intended to be sexist or homophobic, and I apologise if anything I said was regarded as such."

The University of Glasgow have made it clear the event was not organised by the uni and condemns "any behaviour which does not match the University’s position of zero-tolerance of intolerant behaviour."

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