Walter Gordon Neilson was a Scottish

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...

 rugby football player.

He was capped once for in 1894. He also played for Merchistonians RFC.

Family

His father was James Neilson, an Ironmaster and second cousin of Walter Montgomerie Neilson

Walter Montgomerie Neilson

Walter Montgomerie Neilson was a Scottish locomotive engineer and manufacturer.He was born in Glasgow, the son of James Beaumont Neilson, inventor of the hot blast furnace. Walter was trained as an engineer in the Oakbank Foundry run by his uncle John Neilson...

 and his mother was Jane Thomson, daughter of George Thomson

George Thomson (shipbuilder)

George Thomson was a Scottish marine engineer and shipbuilder, born at Partick, Glasgow.He served his apprenticeship with a Mr Graham in Partick before entering the works of Mr Robert Napier, where he quickly gained the best knowledge in marine engineering available.He then went into business with...

, the famous Glasgow shipbuilder. He attended Merchiston Castle School

Merchiston Castle School

Merchiston Castle School is an independent school for boys in the village of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has about 480 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 8 and 18 as either boarders or day pupils; day pupils make up 35% of the school....

.

He was the brother of George

George Neilson

George Neilson was a Scottish rugby football player.He was capped fourteen times for between 1891-96. He also played for West of Scotland FC.-Family:...

, Robert

Robert Neilson

Robert Neilson was a Scottish rugby football player.He was capped six times for between 1898-1900. He also played for West of Scotland FC.-Family:...

 and Willie Neilson who were also capped for Scotland. In 1891, he made his debut, along with his brother George in the game against - it is the only time that brothers have debuted together for Scotland, with the exception of the joint debut of Gavin

Gavin Hastings

Andrew Gavin Hastings, OBE is a former Scotland rugby union player. He is frequently considered one of the best, if not the best, rugby player to come out of Scotland. His nickname is "Big Gav".Hastings was born in Edinburgh...

 and Scott Hastings. One of the four Neilson brothers played in each of the twenty five matches between Willie and George's debut in 1891, until 1899, when Robert had to withdraw from 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....

 line-up after breaking his nose.

His brothers George, Willie and Robert, all became presidents of 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:...

, although Gordon himself did not.