James (Jim) William Telfer


1940 -

Rugby captain and coach. Born in Pathhead (Midlothian), Telfer was brought up in the Scottish Borders. He was educated at Galashiels Academy and Heriot-Watt College, choosing a career in teaching. Between 1954 and 1974, he played rugby for Melrose, serving as their captain for six seasons. His international debut was against France at Murrayfield in 1964. He was capped 25 times for Scotland, serving as Captain of the national team on nine occasions. In 1969, he scored a late try against France, leading his team to what would be their last win in Paris for nearly thirty years. He also played for the British Lions on tours of New Zealand (1966) and South Africa (1968)..

After his retirement as a player, Telfer continued his teaching career and was appointed Headmaster at Hawick High School in 1984. He was also active in rugby coaching, including the British Lions (1983 and 1997) and the Scottish 'Grand Slam' teams of 1984 and 1990.

One of the most influential figures in the sport, he became Scottish Rugby Union's first Director of Rugby in 1993 and has been awarded an MBE.


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