Obituary: Iain Ross

Iain Anderson Ross (Hillhead HSFP) won four caps for Scotland in the 1951 Five Nations Championship.

He won his first cap against France at Colombes in Paris on 13 January 1951 – one of nine Scotland debutants that day – and it was a match not without controversy as an unsuccessful conversion attempt from France was wrongly included as “good” on the scoreboard and by the stadium announcer, so that even some post-match newspaper reports still had the score wrong! France won the game 14-12.

Pictured: The Scotland team for the 1951 game against France at Murrayfield.

His first cap at Murrayfield saw Scotland eclipse a Welsh team containing 11 British Lions by 19-0 – a game renowned for a spectacular 30 metre drop-goal by Scotland No 8 and captain Peter Kininmonth – while his final appearance against England at Twickenham saw the match graced by the presence of both Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, with England edging the result 5-3.

Born in Glasgow on 15 December 1928, Iain Ross was educated at Hillhead High School and undertook his National Service in the Highland Light Infantry.

He worked in the motor trade before taking on a cattle and sheep farm at Eaglesham, where he worked until he retired to Port of Menteith near Stirling.

A keen fisherman, he would regularly take to the water with his Hillhead club mate, winger Allan Cameron, who also made his Scotland debut in that 1951 game against France.

Iain Ross’s funeral will take place in Port of Menteith Parish Church, Stirling FK8 3RA on Thursday 27 June at 12.30pm.

Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to all Iain Ross’s family and friends.