Obituary: Ronnie Glasgow

Ronald James Cunningham Glasgow won ten caps for Scotland between 1962 and 1965.

He was 31 when he made his international debut against France at Murrayfield in 1962, but it was his display in his second cap, against Wales in Cardiff three weeks later, that cemented his place in Scottish Rugby folklore.

Pictured: The Scotland team to play Wales in Cardiff, 1962. Ronnie Glasgow is top row, second from the right. 

Scotland had not won in Wales since 1937 and in Cardiff itself since 1927. They had not scored a try in Cardiff since 1935!

So, hoodoos were obliterated all over the place. First the try drought, and it was Glasgow who brought the 27-year sequence to a halt.

Here’s John Downie’s description from the Glasgow Herald: “Scotland’s first try was garnered by as fine a blend of power, skill and determination as any British pack has produced for many a day.

“First the great shove that drove the home forwards for yards, then, as the Welshmen toppled, the wheel to the narrow side, the pick-up and thrust up the touchline, the infield smuggle and, finally, Glasgow’s picking-up and fighting out of the tackle of a full-back two stone heavier than himself and scoring the try as Welshmen and Scot alike roared in tribute.”

The first win on Welsh soil in 25 years and in their capital in 37 years was cemented by a Frans ten Bos try and Ken Scotland conversion.

Glasgow who played his club rugby for Jordanhill, Gordonians, Dunfermline and Haddington, also earned district honours for North and Midlands and Glasgow.

Glasgow went on to play in the 1962 Scotland win against Ireland at Lansdowne Road and the 3-all draw at Twickenham in March 1962

Against the same opponents a year later he shared in a 3-0 win against Ireland at Murrayfield and, despite opening the scoring with a try at Twickenham, could not prevent an 8-10 defeat.

In 1964, Glasgow faced Ireland and England again, as Scotland won both matches with Glasgow once more first on the scoresheet in the 15-6 Calcutta Cup triumph which John Downie certainly enjoyed as Scotland defeated the Auld Enemy for the first time in 14 years.

Downie wrote: “The side who triumphed on Saturday was probably the soundest that has represented Scotland for many a day.

“Defensively it was as near impregnable that made no difference – an immaculate full-back, four three-quarters swift and deadly in the tackle, and a pair of half backs whose predatory efforts fiercely supplemented a brilliantly destructive back-row of Pringle Fisher, Ronnie Glasgow and Jim Telfer.”

Glasgow’s final two caps were against Wales and Ireland in 1965, both games resulting in narrow defeats.

A head of PE at Dollar Academy, Glasgow’s rich contribution to Scottish Rugby continued, with his twin sons, Anthony and Cameron, representing Scottish Schools and Scottish Students and Cameron a gifted back, winning a Scotland cap against France in Paris in 1997.

Former Scotland hooker, Grant McKelvey, was a young player at Haddington when he first encountered Glasgow.  He said: “The best description I read on how to describe being tackled by Ronnie? ‘It was liked being ambushed by a black panther, but just slightly more aggressive’!

“When his son Cammy got capped in Paris he was walking down the Pigalle after the game with Ronnie. A group of kilted weekend warriors approached, Cammy thought, here we go, fame at last, one boy got a fag packet out and asked Ronnie to sign it!”

Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to all Ronnie Glasgow’s family and many friends.

A memorial service for Ronnie Glasgow will take place at Dollar Parish Church, Bridge Street, Dollar FK14 7DF on Friday 1 November at 2.30pm, followed by refreshments in the nearby Burnside Hall. Ronnie’s family has asked for rugby club ties to be worn.