Inducted in 2012
KEN SCOTLAND
Rugby Union, Cricket
Kenneth James Forbes Scotland was a world-class rugby player who popularised the concept of the attacking full back.
Born in Edinburgh in 1936, he grew into a gifted and versatile performer who was equally comfortable playing at full back, centre, stand-off and scrum-half.
Ken made his debut for Scotland aged 20 in 1957, announcing his arrival in a blaze of glory by scoring the game’s only points – a drop goal and a penalty – in a 6-0 win over France.
His impressive performances were recognised when he was selected for the 1959 British Lions tour to Australia, New Zealand and Canada, where he amassed 22 appearances.
Scotland team-mate Arthur Smith said he was “the best passer of a ball I played with” while the New Zealand Rugby Almanacrated him the “most likely to win a match for his side”.
After his job took him to Tamworth, he joined Leicester Tigers, making his debut against Bath in September 1961. In his first season, he was the club's top point-scorer with 138 from 24 games, despite international calls limiting his availability.
By the time he retired he had represented his country 27 times between 1957 and 1965 – including four matches as captain – and played 10 games for the Barbarians.
As well as Leicester, he played his club rugby for the Royal Signals Catterick, Cambridge University, London Scottish, Ballymena, Heriot’s FP and Aberdeenshire, and also turned out for the Scottish national cricket team.
In 1999, Ken was named in Leicester Tigers’ Team of the Centurydespite having played only 40 games in 18 months for the club. He was also inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame.
In The Complete Book of Rugby (1997), Richard Bath wrote of Ken: “He was the first true attacking full-back in an age where a safety-first attitude and a large boot were the most important attributes for any No.15. Novel at the time, it is now the staple diet of attacking full-backs the world over.”