One of the memorable points of the club game that season was his long-range support try against Heriot’s FP in the cup semi-final at Anniesland. Also in the past season he played in all of the Scottish Students' four matches, being at No.8 in three of the games and appearing as a substitute in the victory against the Welsh at Neath.
Rory won national honours also in season 1997-98, when he played for Scotland’s under-19 squad, including the FIRA world junior championship in France. McKay, who played for Gordonians before joining Hawks, has won district honours with both Caledonia and Glasgow.
He has played for Glasgow's Inter-District Championship team in each of the past three seasons, scoring a try in each of his two matches against his former district, Caledonia. He had his professional debut as blind-side flanker in the match against Harlequins in August, and he made a replacement appearance in the following week’s game against Exeter.
His first game in a professional competition came as a replacement in the Celtic League win against Bridgend at Hughenden in September 2002.