Jack Hegarty

Scottish Rugby is saddened to learn of the death of former Scotland forward and life-long Hawick RFC member John Jackson ‘Jack’ Hegarty. He was 91 when he passed away on Saturday 16 July.A former player, captain and selector for the Mansfield Park club, Hegarty won six caps for his country between 1951 and 1955, making his debut in the back-row against France at the Stade Yves du Manoir.Hegarty’s second appearance, a re-match against France, saw him shift to lock (a position he would retain for the remainder of his international career), where he put in a spirited performance in defeat to be signalled out in the press reports of the time as playing with ‘intelligence and alacrity’ (Bogle, 2013).Hegarty completed his cap career with a home debut against Wales, back-to-back appearances against Ireland and England, before waiting two years for his next and final Test appearance, a third outing against France.Despite a winless international tenure, Hegarty enjoyed success with the South of Scotland, who won the old Inter-District Championship in the 1954/55 season, and the Barbarians, who he represented on the 1960 Easter Tour to Wales, facing Newport and Penarth.A Hawick man through and through, Hegarty spent 40 years working in wool production at the Pringle knitwear factory formerly at the town.Arrangements for Jack’s funeral are a cremation at the Borders Crematorium at 11am on Monday 25 July, followed by a service at Hawick RFC clubrooms at 12.30pm.There will be a collection for Hawick Community Hospital, with a request for family flowers only please.Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to all Jack’s family and friends.Reference: Bogle, K. R. (2013): Scottish Rugby: Game by game. United Kingdom. Luath press. (p. 223)