John Scott (rugby union)

John Scott was born on 28 September 1954 in Exeter.[1]

A back row forward, he played most of his club rugby for Cardiff RFC after playing for both Exeter and Rosslyn Park. Winning 34 England caps between 1978 and 1984, he formed a strong partnership with No. 9 Steve Smith. He also roomed with Smith while on international duty. He played in all four games in England's 1980 Grand Slam winning team. Winning three Welsh cups in a row as captain, Scott is considered one of Cardiff's most successful captains. He also was the only man to captain Cardiff in four consecutive seasons. He also played for a World XV on 9 August 1980 against Argentina in Buenos Aires, losing 36–22.[2]

Scott played for Devon at the age of 17 in the county Championships. Whilst still at school, he became the youngest forward ever to have a full trial for England. His international debut came in 1978 at the age of 23 in a defeat by France, though England did achieve respectability that year by winning two of their four matches. He played in all four of matches of the 1979 season, one as a replacement, and England ended with a record of one win, one draw and two losses. However, with the exception of the last quarter of an hour against Wales where they conceded four tries, England performed well, particularly up front.

Scott typically played as Number 8, earning 31 caps in that role, at the time making him England's most capped Number 8. He was also one of a number of Englishmen of his era to play for a Welsh club along with the likes of Tony Swift and Maurice Colclough. Colclough and Swift both played for Swansea, whilst Scott captained Cardiff in four successive seasons and helped them win five out of seven Welsh Cup Finals between 1981 and 1987. Scott joined Cardiff in 1978 playing until 1987 . He was an scores 35 tries in 270 games for Cardiff. On retirement he was the club's first Team Manager and is inaugurated in the Cardiff RFC Hall of Fame.

In addition to his efforts in the Five Nations, Scott also featured in the 10–9 loss to the All Blacks at the end of the year. Though the defeat was only by one point, it was seen as a terrible failure given that everything appeared to be in England's favour going into the game. Indeed, just a week before, the Northern Division had thrashed the Blacks 21–9 thanks to the efforts of Roger Uttley, Tony Neary and Bill Beaumont.

Scott remained in his number eight berth for the 1980 Five Nations campaign and got his country off to a fine start by scoring a pushover try in their opening 24–9 victory over Ireland, in addition to scores by Steve Smith and Mike Slemen.

England followed it up with victory over France before taking on the Welsh at Twickenham against a backdrop of hype and bad feeling. England won 9–8 in a game notable for the sending off of Welsh flanker Paul Ringer.

England then sealed the Grand Slam with victory over Scotland at Murrayfield, a win engineered by the creativity of Clive Woodward and the finishing of John Carleton.

In 1981, following the tour to Argentina, Scott required double ankle operations where carbon fibres were used to strengthen weakened ankle ligaments. Within four days of his return to Cardiff, Scott was recalled to the English team as pack leader against Ireland.

However, the two seasons that followed saw England flatter to deceive, and by 1983 the Grand Slam was a dim and distant memory. Halfway through the season, captain Steve Smith was axed to be replaced as skipper by Scott, but both remaining matches were lost. However, Scott did have the consolation of making up for his 1979 disappointment by being part of the side that beat the All Blacks 15–9 at Twickenham.

In 1984 England were approaching rock bottom and could only manage a solitary victory over Ireland. Then, following captain Peter Wheeler's decision not to tour South Africa, Scott was reinstated as skipper when he had to play as lock. Both tests against the Springboks were lost by large margins against a powerful Springbok side. At 30 years old Scott decided to retire from International Rugby.

Recent years find him on the golf course trying to retain a single handicap.

Married to Oonagh, they have two children, Liam 21, and Gemma 20. Liam studies French and Russian literature at Cardiff University and has a weekend job flower arranging for weddings. While Gemma currently at Manchester Metropolitan University. Scott is currently director of an embroidery company in Bessemer Road, Cardiff.