Roy Laidlaw
Encyclopedia
Roy James Laidlaw is a Scottish
rugby union
footballer. Laidlaw was cap
ped 47 times, as a scrum half, for Scotland
between 1980–1988, and British Lions
in New Zealand
in 1983.
Although he was first capped against in 1975, he didn't become a regular until 1981. Amongst the highlights of his career, were his two tries in the Triple Crown
decider in Dublin, and when scored a long range solo try against .
Much of his domestic rugby was played with Jed-Forest RFC
, who were in the Scottish Second Division at the time.
.
He was an international reserve for three seasons, before getting capped again in 1980.
At the time, Dougie Morgan
was holding down the scrum half position in the Scotland team, having displaced Alan Lawson
. As Lawson refused to act as replacement, Laidlaw gained a place on the bench. When Morgan retired in 1979, the selectors brought back Lawson, with Laidlaw staying on the bench. Laidlaw continued his good form for Scotland B, and finally gained a place in the Scotland team in the 1980 season, having sat on the bench for 10 games without coming on as a replacement.
Writing during Laidlaw's international career in the mid 1980s, Allan Massie
said that:
In 1983, he became captain of , and his style was described as being like "Gareth Edwards
rather than Jacques Fouroux
." Massie added:
Jim Telfer, who was Scotland coach by that point, considered that Laidlaw's ability to break was Scotland's sharpest attacking weapon in the 1984 Grand Slam, settling the match in the first twenty minutes.
, after the loss of first Terry Holmes
and then Nigel Melville
to injury, playing in all four tests. In total he played in a notably high number of games; 13 of the 18. He scored two tries on the tour and captained the Lions team twice, in the victories over West Coast
and Wairarapa Bush
.
a record 35 times for Scotland. As of 1988 this was a world record.
Richard Bath comments:
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 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...
footballer. Laidlaw was cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
ped 47 times, as a scrum half, 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...
between 1980–1988, and British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1983.
Although he was first capped against in 1975, he didn't become a regular until 1981. Amongst the highlights of his career, were his two tries 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...
decider in Dublin, and when scored a long range solo try against .
Much of his domestic rugby was played with Jed-Forest RFC
Jed-Forest RFC
Jed-Forest Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team who are based at Riverside Park in Jedburgh.One of the world's oldest and most famous clubs, the team was founded in 1885 and currently play in Premiership Division Two and the Border League .-Honours:Kings of the Sevens - 2006Jed-Forest Sevens...
, who were in the Scottish Second Division at the time.
International career
Laidlaw came to prominence in the late 1970s due a string of good performances for Scotland B, then managed by Jim TelferJim Telfer
James "Jim" Telfer is a Scottish rugby union coach and a former rugby player. A former headmaster at Hawick High School and chemistry teacher, he has won fame as a Scottish forwards coach who gave punishing training sessions to his players...
.
He was an international reserve for three seasons, before getting capped again in 1980.
At the time, Dougie Morgan
Dougie Morgan
Douglas "Dougie" Waugh Morgan is a former Scotland international rugby union player. In 1977 he toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions and a the time played club rugby for Stewart's Melville FP.-Notes:...
was holding down the scrum half position in the Scotland team, having displaced Alan Lawson
Alan Lawson
Alan Lawson was born on 19 May 1948 in Kirkcaldy is a retired Scottish rugby union player. He played scrum-half for Scotland on 15 occasions between 1972 and 1980...
. As Lawson refused to act as replacement, Laidlaw gained a place on the bench. When Morgan retired in 1979, the selectors brought back Lawson, with Laidlaw staying on the bench. Laidlaw continued his good form for Scotland B, and finally gained a place in the Scotland team in the 1980 season, having sat on the bench for 10 games without coming on as a replacement.
Writing during Laidlaw's international career in the mid 1980s, Allan Massie
Allan Massie
Allan Massie is a well-known Scottish journalist, sports writer and novelist.-Early life:Born in 1938 in Singapore, where his father was a rubber planter for Sime Darby, Massie spent his childhood in Aberdeenshire...
said that:
- "Laidlaw's first quality is his courage. Only about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 11 ½ stone, he never hesitates to absorb bad ball or to take on the enemy back row. I have never seen him shirk a tackle; he covers admirably and tirelessly... his game is not technically perfect. Though he often kicks admirably over his forwards' heads into the box, his kicking is not quite reliable and he can't really kick with his left foot. His pass, which has never been long, is faster than it was, but he is still inclined to skite the ball along the ground under pressure, and to take an indecisive step before passing. He depends a great deal on Rutherford to cover up these deficiencies; it was noticeable how his game went off in 1983 when Rutherford missed the first three championships."
In 1983, he became captain of , and his style was described as being like "Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
rather than Jacques Fouroux
Jacques Fouroux
Jacques Fouroux was a French rugby union player and coach. He captained France when they won the Grand Slam in 1977, and was the manager when the side repeated the feat in 1981 and 1987.-Player:...
." Massie added:
- "With the possible exception of Jerome GallionJerome GallionJérôme Gallion Jérôme Gallion Jérôme Gallion (born 4 April 1955 in Toulon, France is a retired French international rugby union scrum half for RC Toulonnais.Gallion made his international début for France in January 1978, against England, replacing the retired Jacques Fouroux....
, Laidlaw is the most dangerous breaker from the scrum in contemporary Rugby. He doesn't have the strength of Terry HolmesTerry HolmesTerence David Holmes is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who won 25 caps for as a scrum-half and later played rugby league for Bradford Northern....
, but he is faster and less predictable."
Jim Telfer, who was Scotland coach by that point, considered that Laidlaw's ability to break was Scotland's sharpest attacking weapon in the 1984 Grand Slam, settling the match in the first twenty minutes.
1983 Lions Tour
Laidlaw gained a place in the test team on the 1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1983 the British and Irish Lions toured New Zealand for the first time since 1977. The Lions went down to a 4-0 whitewash for only the second time in history - the previous was also inflicted by the All Blacks on the 1966 Lions. Overall the Lions played eighteen matches, winning twelve and...
, after the loss of first Terry Holmes
Terry Holmes
Terence David Holmes is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who won 25 caps for as a scrum-half and later played rugby league for Bradford Northern....
and then Nigel Melville
Nigel Melville
Nigel David Melville is a former England national rugby union team scrum half and captain.He became the youngest player to captain England on his début when he led them against Australia in November 1984. He went onto make another twelve appearances over the next four years.He attended Aireborough...
to injury, playing in all four tests. In total he played in a notably high number of games; 13 of the 18. He scored two tries on the tour and captained the Lions team twice, in the victories over West Coast
West Coast Rugby Football Union
The West Coast Rugby Football Union, formed in 1890, is the official governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the West Coast region of New Zealand and is affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The team is based in Greymouth and plays home matches at Rugby Park....
and Wairarapa Bush
Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union
The Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union was formed in 1971 with the amalgamation of the Wairarapa Rugby Football Union and Bush Rugby Football Union....
.
Partnership With John Rutherford
Laidlaw partnered stand off John RutherfordJohn Rutherford (rugby player)
John Young Rutherford , nicknamed Rud or Ruddie, is a former Scottish rugby union footballer who gained 42 caps at fly-half between 1979 and 1987...
a record 35 times for Scotland. As of 1988 this was a world record.
Richard Bath comments:
- "every country has, at some stage, a double-act which sees two players through sheer longevity, become mentioned in the same breath... One of the most enduring partnerships was that of Jed-Forest's Roy Laidlaw and 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 ....
's John Rutherford. For nigh on a decade, the two were immovable at half-back for Scotland. Unlike most of the other famous pairings, however, it was Laidlaw and Rutherford's differences rather than their similarities, that melded them into an outstanding partnership. On the one hand, there was the peerless Rutherford, all grace and poise, who could glide through tackles and drill a ball onto a sixpence in the opposition's 22. On the other, there was Laidlaw, a gutsy fighter in the classic Borders mould. The pair played together on 35 occasions, a world record for a half-back partnership."