William Lovat Fraser
Encyclopedia
William Lovat Fraser was a Scottish sportsman who played both cricket and rugby union at an international level, representing Scotland in cricket and touring Argentina with the 1910 Combined British rugby union side, an early incarnation of the British and Irish Lions
.
.
. Although he was never selected to play rugby for Scotland, he was selected to tour with the Combined British
on the 1910 tour to Argentina
where he played in what count as their first test match. Notably, Fraser scored the first try of that match.
and continued to play for his school's old boys side. He was predominantly a bowler (right-arm medium pace). He played his three first-class matches between 1909 and 1913. The first match was on 22 July 1909 when Scotland faced Ireland in Scotland, at North Inch, Perth. Although he was out for a duck
in Scotland's first innings, his contribution of 3 wickets in Ireland's first innings, and a five wicket haul in their second went a long way towards Scotland's win by an innings and 132 runs. Three years later he was in the Scotland side that faced Australia on 11 July 1912. The match was drawn and Fraser once again registered a duck but took a wicket. His final first class match was in the 10th July 1913 encounter with Ireland at the Grange Cricket Club Ground, Raeburn Place
, Edinburgh. Although the match was drawn, Fraser hit a first class high of 44 in the first innings and took six wickets over the two innings. In 1919 he again played for Scotland against the Australian Imperial Army and in 1921 against Australia, but neither match was deemed a first class encounter.
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
.
Early life
William Lovat Fraser was born in 1884 in Perth, Scotland. He was the older brother of Alan Fraser who also played cricket for Scotland (in 1921) and both attended Merchiston Castle SchoolMerchiston 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....
.
Rugby union
Fraser played his rugby for his school's old boys club, Merchistonian FCMerchistonian FC
Merchistonian Football Club was a rugby football team based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was for former pupils of Merchiston Castle School. However, as Allan Massie notes, because it was a boarding school, unlike some of the other private schools in Edinburgh, a lot of the former pupils would...
. Although he was never selected to play rugby for Scotland, he was selected to tour with the Combined British
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
on the 1910 tour to Argentina
1910 British Lions tour to Argentina
The 1910 British Lions tour to Argentina is a retrospective term applied to the tour of Argentina made by a side made up of 16 English players and 3 Scots. The organisers of the tour named the team the "English Rugby Union team", but the host country advertised the touring team as the Combined...
where he played in what count as their first test match. Notably, Fraser scored the first try of that match.
Cricket
Lovat Fraser was also a noted cricketer. He had played at Merchiston Castle SchoolMerchiston 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....
and continued to play for his school's old boys side. He was predominantly a bowler (right-arm medium pace). He played his three first-class matches between 1909 and 1913. The first match was on 22 July 1909 when Scotland faced Ireland in Scotland, at North Inch, Perth. Although he was out for a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
in Scotland's first innings, his contribution of 3 wickets in Ireland's first innings, and a five wicket haul in their second went a long way towards Scotland's win by an innings and 132 runs. Three years later he was in the Scotland side that faced Australia on 11 July 1912. The match was drawn and Fraser once again registered a duck but took a wicket. His final first class match was in the 10th July 1913 encounter with Ireland at the Grange Cricket Club Ground, Raeburn Place
Raeburn Place
Raeburn Place is the main street of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, and the name of the playing fields there.-Rugby:The first international rugby football game was played on the playing fields at Raeburn Place on 27 March 1871 between England and Scotland. It was won by Scotland, though England got revenge...
, Edinburgh. Although the match was drawn, Fraser hit a first class high of 44 in the first innings and took six wickets over the two innings. In 1919 he again played for Scotland against the Australian Imperial Army and in 1921 against Australia, but neither match was deemed a first class encounter.