Hugh Ferns McLeod was born in Hawick on 8 June 1932 and educated at Hawick High School. He worked in the building trade and later owned a sports shop. He did National Service with the Army and played in the Inter-Services' tournament at Twickenham. He played at prop for Hawick throughout his career. Having gained his first cap for Scotland against France in 1954, he set a new national record of 40 caps by the time of his final international in 1962. He toured with the British Isles to South Africa in 1955 where he played in 13 matches and in 1959 to Australasia where his 21 appearances included the six tests against Australia and New Zealand. In 1955 and 1959 he played in celebration matches for Scotland & Ireland against England & Wales. He died on 12 May 2014