John Douglas (rugby union)
John Douglas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | John Douglas 18 December 1934 Woolwich, London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 January 2025 (aged 90) England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Stewart's Melville College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Two, including Struan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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John Douglas (18 December 1934 – 5 January 2025) was a Scottish international rugby player.
Biography
Douglas was educated at Stewart's Melville College in Edinburgh and first played rugby for the school XV. During his National Service he played for the B.A.O.R and when back in civilian life played for Blackheath. He returned to Scotland and played for Stewart's Melville Former Pupils RFC and Edinburgh before his first cap for Scotland in 1961. He was capped twelve times as No 8 for Scotland between 1961 and 1963.
He took part in the 1962 British Lions tour to South Africa, although not selected for any test appearances, and also for the Barbarians tours of 1961 and 1965. He was a successful Rugby Sevens player.
In later life he became a racehorse owner. His horse Rubstic won the 1979 Grand National.
His elder son Struan Douglas is a Scottish rugby league international and his younger son Nigel Douglas played rugby for Scottish School boys, premier rugby for Dundee HSRFP and district rugby for North and Midlands.
Douglas died from complications of a stroke on 5 January 2025, at the age of 90.[1][2][3]
References
- ^ Barnes, David (6 January 2025). "Former Scotland cap and Grand National winning owner John Douglas dies, aged 90". Scottish Rugby News from The Offside Line. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ^ "Obituary: John Douglas". Scottish Rugby. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ "John Douglas obituary: Scottish rugby player and racehorse owner". The Times. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.