George Neilson

George Neilson was a Scotland international rugby union player.[1]

George Neilson

Birth name	George Thomson Neilson
Date of birth	22 January 1872
Place of birth	Bothwell, Scotland
Date of death	6 April 1944 (aged 72)
Place of death	Milton, Glasgow, Scotland
Notable relative(s)	Willie Neilson, brother Gordon Neilson, brother Robert Neilson, brother George Thomson, grandfather
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) - West of Scotland () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1891 Glasgow District () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1891–96 Scotland 14 (6)
28th President of the Scottish Rugby Union
In office 1901–1902
Preceded by	Robert MacMillan
Succeeded by	Roger Davidson

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He played for West of Scotland.[1]

Provincial career

He was capped by Glasgow District in the inter-city match of 5 December 1891.[2]

International career

He was capped fourteen times for Scotland between 1891-96.[1][3]

Administrative career

Along with his brothers, William and Robert, he was a president of the Scottish Rugby Union. George was the 28th President of the Scottish Rugby Union. He served the 1901-1902 term in office.[4]

Family

His father was James Neilson, an Ironmaster and second cousin of Walter Montgomerie Neilson and his mother was Jane Thomson, daughter of George Thomson, the famous Glasgow shipbuilder. He attended Merchiston Castle School.

He was the brother of Willie, Gordon and Robert Neilson who were also capped for Scotland.[1] In 1891, he made his debut, along with his brother William in the game against Wales - it is the only time that brothers have debuted together for Scotland, with the exception of the joint debut of Gavin and Scott Hastings.[5] One of the four Neilson brothers played in each of the twenty five matches between Willie and George's debut in 1891, until 1899, when Robert had to withdraw from the Calcutta Cup line-up after breaking his nose.[5]

References

1. Bath, p137
2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4rxEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GbYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3214%2C6057981
3. http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/962.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match
4. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/sru-files/files/SR_RR1819_digital.pdf
5. Bath, p97

Sources

1. Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 ISBN 1-905326-24-6)
2. Thorburn, Sandy The History of Scottish Rugby