Jock Turner
Encyclopedia
John "Jock" William Cleet Turner (born 28 September 1943) is a former international rugby union
player.
He was capped twenty times for Scotland
between 1966 and 1971, winnings six caps at fly-half, thirteen as a centre and one at fullback. He scored two tries for Scotland.
Richard Bath writes of him that:
He was selected for the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
and played in all four internationals against .
In 1971, he helped Scotland win their first victory at Twickenham
for 33 years.
He played club rugby for Gala
.
Allan Massie writes of him that:
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...
player.
He was capped twenty times for Scotland
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...
between 1966 and 1971, winnings six caps at fly-half, thirteen as a centre and one at fullback. He scored two tries for Scotland.
Richard Bath writes of him that:
- "Although he was at his height a decade before John RutherfordJohn RutherfordJohn Rutherford may refer to:* John Rutherford , Scottish professor father of Daniel Rutherford* John Rutherford , governor of Virginia* Jock Rutherford , English footballer...
appeared on the scene, GalaGala RFCGala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale....
's Jock Turner shared many similarities with the SelkirkSelkirk RFCSelkirk Rugby Football Club are a rugby union side based in Selkirk in the Borders, Scotland.They play in their home games at Philiphaugh, and are now in Premiership Division Two and the Border League ....
legend, not least the Borders school of hard knocks in which they plied their trade on a domestic level. A regular with the great Gala sevensRugby sevensRugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
of the 1960s, Turner had a huge boot on him, but was equally at home running at opposition defences, as he did to such effect in Scotland's 14-3 loss to the touring All BlacksAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in 1967."
He was selected for the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1968 the British Lions toured South Africa. The tour was not success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the test series against South Africa by three matches to nil, with the other match drawn. The Lions won 15 of their 16 non-international matches, losing only to Transvaal...
and played in all four internationals against .
In 1971, he helped Scotland win their first victory at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
for 33 years.
He played club rugby for Gala
Gala RFC
Gala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale....
.
Allan Massie writes of him that:
- "His best season for Scotland may have been his last when he played fly-half partnered by bis clubmate Duncan PatersonDuncan PatersonDuncan Paterson was a Scottish rugby union player. He played at scrum-half, for Gala RFC at club level and was capped at international level for Scotland...
, but his best position was probably centre...
- "Turner was always inclined to be underrated, and he was neither spectacular nor readily recognizable as his contemporaries Rea or Frame. But he was sounder than either, an utterly reliable handler and a magnificent tackler, and a much better kicker. His virtues were indeed only beginning to be recognized when he retired... one touchline try against at TwickenhamTwickenham StadiumTwickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
was scored in the narrowest imaginable space. He scored another try against England the next year with a clean breakthrough after a scissors with Ian RobertsonIan RobertsonIan Robertson may refer to:* Ian Robertson , former Australian rules footballer and currently a football commentator* Ian Robertson, Lord Robertson , Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, 1966-88...
."