Bill Maclagan
Encyclopedia
William Edward "Bill" Maclagan (5 April 1858 – 10 October 1926) was a Scottish
international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for London Scottish F.C.
. Maclagan was one of the longest serving international rugby players during the early development of the sport, and was awarded 25 caps for Scotland
.
He played international rugby for thirteen seasons, a Scottish record for sixty years, and led the first official British Isles
team on its 1891 tour of South Africa
. Maclagan's contributions to the early development of rugby were recognised in 2009 with his induction into the IRB Hall of Fame
.
(1869–1875), and on leaving joined the Edinburgh Academical rugby club. It was as an Academical player that Maclagan was first chosen to represent the Scotland national team. Although he would later play his rugby at three-quarter, Maclagan was placed at fullback when chosen to face England
in 1878
. The next season
Maclagan was again selected at fullback, and after a win against Ireland
, in only the second encounter between the two countries; Maclagan again faced England in the very first challenge for the Calcutta Cup
. The England game was a dull 3-3 draw, but Maclagan was deemed to have served his team with outstanding play. He tackled bravely through-out the match, upsetting numerous English attacks.
After playing two more games at fullback in 1880, Maclagan was switched into the three-quarter position and along with Ninian Finlay
and John Campbell
he became a part of the first three three-quarter line in international rugby. Maclagan continued at three-quarters, and after facing England and Ireland in both the 1880-81 and 1881-82 seasons he was selected for the first Scottish international with Wales
as part of the inaugural Home Nations Championship
in 1883
. The Welsh team were beaten by three goals to nil, with Maclagan converting all three tries
to earn himself his first international scores. Maclagan was on the score sheet again the next match when he converted one of the tries in a victory over Ireland, but was part of a losing Scottish team when they were beaten by England in the Triple Crown
and Championship decider.
Maclagan was given the captaincy of Scotland for the 1884 Home Nations Championship
, which saw identical results to the previous season; a win over Wales and Ireland, but a loss to eventual tournament winners England. The England match is most notable for the argument it caused between the two countries governing bodies, the Scottish Rugby Union
and its English counterpart the Rugby Football Union
. The two teams argued on the pitch for ten minutes after a knock-back led to the England try. The disagreement spilled over into the next season when Scotland refused to play England. Maclagan retained the captaincy the next season, which saw Scotland draw against Wales and beat Ireland.
Maclagan did not play in any of the matches of the 1885-86 season, with his place being taken by Reginald Morrison of Edinburgh University
. Scotland won the Championship for the first time during this season; a feat they would repeat the next season when Maclagan returned. Although no longer team captain, Maclagan scored his first international try against Ireland in Belfast
, and scored a second the very next match in a one-sided victory over Wales. The team drew against England, but the result was enough to give Scotland the Championship for the second time, making Maclagan a Home Nations champion.
1887 saw the official formation of the International Rugby Board
, an event which had its origins in the 1884 argument between Scotland and England. England refused to join the IRB resulting in their expulsion of the Home Nations Championship. Maclagan played in both games of the 1888 Championship, but missed the 1889 tournament, before returning for his final run of games for his country in 1890
. Macalagan regained the captaincy for all three games in 1889, scoring a try in the opening game against Wales at the Cardiff Arms Park
. His final match at England gave Maclaran his twenty fifth cap, a record for a Scottish player at the time.
at Cape Town
he scored one of two tries, the other coming from Randolph Aston
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
forward who played club rugby for London Scottish F.C.
London Scottish F.C.
London Scottish Football Club is a rugby union club in England. It is a member of both the Rugby Football Union and the Scottish Rugby Union.-History:...
. Maclagan was one of the longest serving international rugby players during the early development of the sport, and was awarded 25 caps for Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
.
He played international rugby for thirteen seasons, a Scottish record for sixty years, and led the first official British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team on its 1891 tour of South Africa
1891 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1891 British Isles tour to South Africa was the first British Isles rugby union tour of South Africa and only the second overseas tour conducted by a joint British team. Between 9 July and 7 September, the team played 20 games, including three tests against the South Africa national rugby union...
. Maclagan's contributions to the early development of rugby were recognised in 2009 with his induction into the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
.
Scotland
Maclagan was educated at the Edinburgh AcademyEdinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
(1869–1875), and on leaving joined the Edinburgh Academical rugby club. It was as an Academical player that Maclagan was first chosen to represent the Scotland national team. Although he would later play his rugby at three-quarter, Maclagan was placed at fullback when chosen to face England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in 1878
1877-78 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1877-78 Home Nations rugby union matches are a series of international friendlies held between the England, Ireland and Scotland national rugby union teams.-Results:-Scoring system:...
. The next season
1878-79 Home Nations rugby union matches
The 1878-79 Home Nations rugby union matches are a series of international friendlies held between the England, Ireland and Scotland national rugby union teams. The only recognised competition held between the countries was the inaugural Calcutta Cup match, contested between England and Scotland...
Maclagan was again selected at fullback, and after a win against Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
, in only the second encounter between the two countries; Maclagan again faced England in the very first challenge for the Calcutta Cup
Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
. The England game was a dull 3-3 draw, but Maclagan was deemed to have served his team with outstanding play. He tackled bravely through-out the match, upsetting numerous English attacks.
After playing two more games at fullback in 1880, Maclagan was switched into the three-quarter position and along with Ninian Finlay
Ninian Finlay
Ninian Jamieson Finlay was a Scottish international rugby players. He was capped nine times for between 1875-81, and is generally considered to be the youngest player ever to be capped for - he was seventeen years and thirty six days old when he was capped against on 8th March, 1875...
and John Campbell
John Argentine Campbell
John Argentine Campbell was a Scottish rugby union player. He was killed in World War IHe played for West of Scotland FC and was capped for in .-References:...
he became a part of the first three three-quarter line in international rugby. Maclagan continued at three-quarters, and after facing England and Ireland in both the 1880-81 and 1881-82 seasons he was selected for the first Scottish international with Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
as part of the inaugural Home Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
in 1883
1883 Home Nations Championship
The 1883 Home Nations Championship was the inaugural series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Five matches were played between 16 December 1882 and 3 March 1883...
. The Welsh team were beaten by three goals to nil, with Maclagan converting all three tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
to earn himself his first international scores. Maclagan was on the score sheet again the next match when he converted one of the tries in a victory over Ireland, but was part of a losing Scottish team when they were beaten by England in the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
and Championship decider.
Maclagan was given the captaincy of Scotland for the 1884 Home Nations Championship
1884 Home Nations Championship
The 1884 Home Nations Championship was the second series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 12 April 1884...
, which saw identical results to the previous season; a win over Wales and Ireland, but a loss to eventual tournament winners England. The England match is most notable for the argument it caused between the two countries governing bodies, the Scottish Rugby Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
and its English counterpart the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
. The two teams argued on the pitch for ten minutes after a knock-back led to the England try. The disagreement spilled over into the next season when Scotland refused to play England. Maclagan retained the captaincy the next season, which saw Scotland draw against Wales and beat Ireland.
Maclagan did not play in any of the matches of the 1885-86 season, with his place being taken by Reginald Morrison of Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University Rugby Football Club is a leading rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland which currently plays its fixtures in the top Scottish National League and the British Universities Premiership. It is one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union...
. Scotland won the Championship for the first time during this season; a feat they would repeat the next season when Maclagan returned. Although no longer team captain, Maclagan scored his first international try against Ireland in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, and scored a second the very next match in a one-sided victory over Wales. The team drew against England, but the result was enough to give Scotland the Championship for the second time, making Maclagan a Home Nations champion.
1887 saw the official formation of the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
, an event which had its origins in the 1884 argument between Scotland and England. England refused to join the IRB resulting in their expulsion of the Home Nations Championship. Maclagan played in both games of the 1888 Championship, but missed the 1889 tournament, before returning for his final run of games for his country in 1890
1890 Home Nations Championship
The 1890 Home Nations Championship was the eighth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 1 February and 15 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. Macalagan regained the captaincy for all three games in 1889, scoring a try in the opening game against Wales at the Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
. His final match at England gave Maclaran his twenty fifth cap, a record for a Scottish player at the time.
British Isles
Even though his career with the Scottish team was behind him, Maclagan was approached by the Rugby Football Union to captain a British Team to South Africa. Although called an English team at the time, mainly because the tour was orgainsed by the English Union, the team contained four Scottish players in which is now recognised as the first official British Lions tour. He played in 19 of the 20 matches, including all three tests. In the final test of the series against South AfricaSouth Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
at Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
he scored one of two tries, the other coming from Randolph Aston
Randolph Aston
Randolph Littleton Aston was an English rugby union centre who played club rugby for Blackheath and Cambridge University and was a member of the first official British Isles tour in 1891.-Personal history:...
.
External links
See also
- List of Scottish cricket and rugby union players