Brian Neill (rugby union)

Brian Neill
Full nameJohn Brian Neill
Date of birth(1937-07-28)28 July 1937
Place of birthEdinburgh, Scotland
Date of death26 June 2006(2006-06-26) (aged 68)
Place of deathEdinburgh, Scotland
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1963–65 Scotland 7 (0)

John Brian Neill (28 July 1937 — 26 June 2006) was a Scottish international rugby union captain.

A native of Edinburgh, Neill was a prop with Edinburgh Accies, for which he made his firsts debut at age 16.[1]

Neill took over as Scotland captain on the eve of their 1964 Five Nations campaign. He had only one prior cap to his name at the time, against England a year earlier, and it was suggested he had been given the position because he could speak French.[2] Under Neill's captaincy, Scotland won three of their four matches, to finish joint Five Nations champions with Wales, while also securing a 0–0 draw against the visiting All Blacks.[3] He remained in charge for the opening match of the 1965 Five Nations, then lost his place due to a foot and didn't feature again for Scotland.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "A strict disciplinarian". The Scotsman. 17 February 1964.
  2. ^ "'He took his fork, picked up my steak and ate it . . .'". The Herald. 7 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Barbarians: A club in touch with history". The Scotsman. 8 April 2008.
  4. ^ "Scotland Selectors Name Four New Caps". The Guardian Journal. 26 January 1965.