A rugby fan who murdered his wife in an axe attack after a row about a planned trip to watch a match was jailed for life yesterday.

A judge ordered that Emrys Taylor, 65, should serve at least 12-and-a-half years before he can be considered for release following the killing.

Taylor, a Welshman, met his wife Lillian during a rugby outing to Scotland to watch his national side.

After the murder the ashes of his wife, who was a supporter of the Scottish rugby side, were scattered at the national stadium at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Lord Kinclaven told Taylor at the High Court in Edinburgh: "You are unable to explain why you behaved in such a violent manner, ultimately resulting in the tragic loss of your wife's life. Your voluntary consumption of alcohol is no excuse."

The judge said he took into account Taylor's age and health problems but said he would have jailed him for at least 16 years but for his guilty plea.

After sentencing, the victim's sister, Elizabeth Martin, 48, said: "Emrys has got what he deserves. He has many, many years to sit and reflect on what he has done."

Taylor claimed he could not recollect the murder but that the couple had earlier argued over a trip to Wales to watch a Heineken Cup match.

He made a 999 call to emergency services after the attack at the couple's home.

Taylor told a controller: "I've just killed my wife. I'll go to prison for the rest of my life, it doesn't matter."

Moments earlier, Mrs Taylor, 43, had phoned her 79-year-old mother who heard her daughter say: "Wait a minute Emrys, I'm speaking on the phone."

Immediately after the remark she heard a growl-type sound. She asked her daughter what the noise was but got no reply and found their conversation abruptly terminated.

Police arrived at the couple's home in Laird Terrace, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, and found a large, blood-stained axe on the living room floor and blood spatters on several walls. The murder victim was in a chair with her feet resting on a table.

Mrs Taylor was found to have suffered severe head injuries, including multiple fractures to the skull, jaw and cheekbones.

Taylor earlier admitted murdering his wife by repeatedly striking her on the head with an axe at their home on April 3 this year.

The court heard that the couple had met through a shared love of rugby. Defence solicitor-advocate Iain Paterson said that on the evening of the murder the couple rowed over plans to watch a rugby match in Wales. "He accepts he was angry and upset about this argument and about the fact that Lillian had not explained to her mother and father they were going on the trip."

Mr Paterson added: "He is unable to explain to me why he murdered his wife. It may be the stress of the day, the argument and anxiety coupled with his personality trait and added to that the alcohol intake, may have led to Emrys Taylor losing his temper and losing control," he said.