Jim Davidson (rugby union, born 1931)

This article is about the Scottish rugby player. For the Irish rugby player, see Jim Davidson (rugby union, born 1942).

James Davidson

Birth name	James Norman Grieve Davidson
Date of birth	(1931-01-28)28 January 1931
Place of birth	Hawick,[1] Scottish Borders, Scotland
Date of death	1 September 2024(2024-09-01) (aged 93)
Place of death	Orewa, Auckland, New Zealand
School	Hawick High School
University	University of Edinburgh Loughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Edinburgh University RFC () – Loughborough Colleges () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) Edinburgh District () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1952-1954 Scotland 7 (3)

James Norman Grieve Davidson (28 January 1931 – 1 September 2024)[2] was a Scottish sportsman who represented Scotland in both cricket and rugby union. Davidson played first-class cricket for the Scotland national cricket team in 1951, and represented the Scotland national rugby union team from 1952 to 1954.[3]

Early life

James Davidson was born on 28 January 1931 in Hawick.[1] He attended Hawick High School, and went on to the University of Edinburgh, where he studied medicine.[2]

Cricket career

A right-handed batsman, Davidson made his debut for the Scottish cricket team in May 1951, against Warwickshire (an English county). Later in the year, he also played matches against Northamptonshire, Ireland, and Worcestershire, as well as a two-day game against the touring South Africans.[4] All but the last of these matches were considered first-class.[5]

Rugby union career

Amateur career

Davidson played for Edinburgh University RFC when at University of Edinburgh.

Provincial career

He was selected for Edinburgh District and played in the Scottish Inter-District Championship. Playing in the inaugural 1953-54 season he was part of the Edinburgh side that won the title in that year.[6]

International career

Davidson made his international debut on 12 January 1952 at Murrayfield in the Scotland vs France match.[1] Of the 7 matches he played for his national side he was never on the winning side.[1] He played his final match for Scotland on 9 January 1954 at Murrayfield in the Scotland vs France match.[1]

Later life

After his sporting career, Davidson emigrated to New Zealand and worked as a doctor at Whangarei Hospital.[7] He was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for public service in the 1995 New Year Honours.[8]

References

1. "George Adam Edward Buchanan-Smith".
2. James Norman Grieve Davidson – CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
3. Bath, p104
4. Scotland cap matches played by Norman Davidson – CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
5. First-class matches played by Norman Davidson – CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
6. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
7. "New Zealand Medical Register 1962" (PDF). New Zealand Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
8. "No. 53894". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1994. pp. 33–37.

Sources

• Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 ISBN 1-905326-24-6)
• Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh; ISBN 0-904919-84-6)

External links

• Jim Davidson at ESPNscrum