Oliver Grant

Thomas Oliver Grant was born in Hawick on 5 September 1933 and won six caps for Scotland, two in the second-row and four in the back-row, between 1960 and 1964.

Educated at Hawick High School and employed as a production study manager, Grant made his debut for Hawick against Langholm in 1954 and went on to play more than 200 appearances for the Greens. He was also a prolific in the sevens arena.

After playing for the South for two seasons and in Scotland trials, Grant made his debut against Ireland in Dublin in February 1960, having been called into the team on the eve of the match as lock Frans ten Bos had not sufficiently recovered from an ankle injury.

Scotland won the game 6-5, courtesy of a Ronnie Thomson try and a drop-goal from Ken Scotland.

Grant then played against England at Murrayfield the next month and was part of the Scotland pack – by this stage in his customary No 8 berth – on the ground-breaking short tour to South Africa in April 1960.

Grant had to wait until 1964 to return to Scotland duty. An outstanding performance for the South in a 0-8 defeat against the touring New Zealand team, captained by Wilson Whineray, was the springboard to his recall.

He then played in the 10-0 Murrayfield victory against France and in the epic 0-0 draw against New Zealand, before winning his final cap against Wales in Cardiff.

Work subsequently took him to Yorkshire where he won county honours while playing at the Harrogate club. He also represented the Barbarians, scoring a try in an 8-17 loss to Newport in 1962.

Later, he transitioned into coaching, making an impact in that regard at Cambridge University and London Scottish.

Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to Oliver Grant’s family and many friends.