Hailed as “the greatest rugby player of his generation”, Robert Wilson Shaw was a mercurial player who inspired Scotland to a famous victory over England to seal the Triple Crown.

Born in 1913, he played his club rugby for Glasgow High School FP, where he became renowned for his speed and ability to pass, dummy pass and sidestep defenders.

Equally comfortable at fly-half, wing or centre, he made his international debut in 1934, scoring his first try in the Calcutta Cup match against England that year.

However, his place in history was sealed four years later, when he captained Scotland to a famous victory at Twickenham in front of 70,000 spectators.

In the first televised rugby international, Robert had already scored one try and created another when, in the last minute, he set off on a mazy run to touch down and win the match 21-16.

He was carried off the field on the shoulders of his team-mates at the end of a game that later became known as ‘Wilson Shaw's match’. Scotland wouldn’t win another Triple Crown for 40 years.

Robert also played against the All Blacks in 1935 in a Combined Edinburgh and Glasgow XV and was selected for the Great Britain team that toured Argentina in 1936, starring in a 23-0 victory over the host nation.

Capped 19 times for Scotland between 1934 and 1939, he scored 28 points for his country. He died in 1979 aged 66.

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