Andy Irvine (rugby union)

Andy Irvine originally played for Heriot's Rugby Club.[1]

Irvine represented Edinburgh District in the Scottish Inter-District Championship.[4]

As fullback for Scotland, he won 51 caps, between 1972–82 and scored ten tries.[1] His first cap was against the All Blacks in December 1972.[5] His last international appearance was against Australia on 10 July 1982.[6]

He earned British and Irish Lions caps versus South Africa (1974), New Zealand (1977) and South Africa (1980). He scored 156 points in fifteen games on the 1974 Lion tour.[7] He also played for the Barbarians during their 1976 Easter Tour. In the 1974 tour, he adopted many South African tactics and styles of play, although JPR Williams was preferred as full back for the tests, limiting Irvine to two test appearances on the wing.[2][1]

Irvine vies with Ken Scotland, Gavin Hastings and Stuart Hogg for the title of Scotland's greatest ever fullback, with incisive running at a blistering pace from the back his trademark.[8] A number of polls have voted Irvine Scotland's greatest player,[9] and he is generally considered[10] one of the best, if not the best, attacking full backs of his era.[11] His presence in the line often distracted defenders even when he did not have possession.[12]

In May 2005, Irvine announced his intention to stand for president of the Scottish Rugby Union.[13] He was elected. He announced his readiness to stand for a second term at the end of March 2006.[14] and was unopposed.[15] He stepped down from the role in June 2007, having served the maximum of two years in the post.[16]

In August 2010 he was appointed as the first independent chairman of Celtic Rugby.[17]

In March 2010 the Bill McLaren Foundation launched, with Irvine and John Rutherford directors.[18]

Irvine was the tour manager of the 2013 British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia. It was the first successful Lions' tour since 1997, with the Lions winning the series 2-1.