Ken Scotland: Scottish rugby legend and former British and Irish Lions defender dies aged 86 | Rugby Union News

Ken Scotland played 27 matches for Scotland and also represented his country in cricket; Scottish Rugby said it was “extremely saddened” by the Scot’s death, describing him as “a player ahead of his time, a real trailblazer”.

Ken Scotland has died aged 86, the Scottish Rugby Union has confirmed

Former Scotland and Great Britain and Ireland Lions full-back Ken Scotland has died aged 86, the Scottish Rugby Union has confirmed.

Scotland, who also represented his country in cricket, made his international rugby union debut in the 1957 Five Nations Championship against France.

He made 27 appearances over the next eight years and also played for Leicester Tigers, who named him in their ‘Team of the Century’ in 1999.

Scottish Rugby said it was “extremely saddened” by the Scot’s death, describing him as “a player ahead of his time, a real trailblazer”.

Scotland’s Andy Irvine added: “Ken was without a doubt one of the best players ever to play rugby and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.

“As a schoolboy at George Heriot’s he was my ultimate hero and when I was playing senior rugby for FP I was lucky enough to get personal coaching at full-back from Ken.

“He had a great rugby brain and such a lovely way of explaining his thoughts and ideas to help the players. Not only a great player but an equally good coach.”

Scotland were one of the first to be inducted into Scottish Rugby’s Hall of Fame.