George Stevenson (rugby union)

George Stevenson

Birth name	George Drummond Stevenson
Date of birth	(1933-05-30)30 May 1933
Place of birth	Hawick, Scotland
Date of death	24 October 2012(2012-10-24) (aged 79)
Place of death	Currie, Scotland
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Hawick PSA () Hawick Linden () 1951-67 Hawick () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) South of Scotland District () 1965 Scottish Districts 1 (3) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1956-65 Scotland 24 (9)

George Stevenson (30 May 1933 – 24 June 2012) was a Scotland international rugby union player. He played as a Centre, but could also cover Wing.[1]

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Stevenson started playing rugby union with Hawick PSA and then moved to Hawick Linden.[2]

From Linden, Stevenson then played for Hawick.[3]

His Hawick team-mate Hugh McLeod said this of Stevenson: "He was a like car. He had gears and he would move into top gear when he thought it was necessary. He was never happy touching the ball down in the corner. He would always want to touch down under the posts. He was such a character."[2]

Provincial career

He played for South of Scotland District.[4]

He also played for the combined Scottish Districts side, notably in their 1965 match against the touring South Africa international side. Scoring a side-stepping try against the Springboks he helped the Scottish Districts side record a 16-8 win.

The Border Telegraph notes: "Everyone in Hawick that day knew that "Stevie" would sidestep because that was his routine in club colours. The only exception was the poor Springbok defender who was completely bamboozled."[2]

The Glasgow Herald noted the try as a 'spectacular solo try'.[4]

International career

He was capped 24 times for Scotland.[5] He scored a try on his debut against England.[4]

He played for Barbarians.[4]

Business career

He trained to be an engineer but after his national service switched to working in food and drink production. He worked in Bibby's, an agricultural foodstuffs production before switching to be a representative for Ballantine's whisky.[4]

References

1. "George Drummond Stevenson". ESPN scrum.
2. "Tributes paid to Hawick rugby star". Border Telegraph.
3. Scotland. The Essential History of Rugby Union. Nick Oswald and John Griffiths. Headline Publishing. 2003.
4. "George Stevenson". HeraldScotland.
5. "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - George Stevenson - Test matches". ESPN scrum.