Stan Coughtrie

Coughtrie, born in Hamilton on 19 July 1935, won 11 caps for Scotland between 1959 and 1963. Standing at 6ft 1½ inches, he was regarded as exceptionally tall for a scrum-half.

He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and trained as a chartered accountant.He was hailed as a pivotal figure in Edinburgh Academicals’ championship winning 1955-56 season and also represented the Army and Edinburgh district before he made his international debut at the Stade Colombes in Paris in 1959.

Later that year, he joined the Lions on their tour of Australia and New Zealand.He played two matches in Australia – against Queensland Reds and New South Wales Country, scoring a try against the former – before his tour was curtailed by injury.

Arguably, his finest Scotland performance came in a 20-6 victory over Ireland in Dublin in February 1962.

Coughtrie had to be at his sharpest that day as the Ireland pack, according to contemporary accounts, dominated at both scrum and lineout, which came as something of a surprise given that Scotland’s forwards had had the upper hand earlier that championship against both France and Wales.

Writing in the Glasgow Herald, correspondent John Downie, praised Coughtrie’s left-footed drop goal some 90 seconds into stoppage time to cement Scotland’s win.

Downie also noted: “Coughtrie’s touch kicking from behind his forwards had been of immense value to his side and the Edinburgh Academical answered emphatically those who said he could shine only behind winning forwards.”

Coughtrie twice led Edinburgh to success in the Inter-District Championship and also represented the Combined Edinburgh and Glasgow team against Paris and the touring Springboks in the 1961-62 season.

He was also a fine cricketer playing for both Clydesdale and Edinburgh Accies.

Scottish Rugby extends its sincere condolences to all Stan Coughtrie’s family and many friends.