Roger Davidson (rugby union)

Roger Davidson was a Scotland international rugby union player.^[1]

Rugby Union career[]

Amateur career[]

Davidson started by playing for Perthshire.^[2]

He moved to Aberdeen to study at university. In 1892, Davidson was playing for Aberdeen Nomads.^[3]

Davidson played for Royal HSFP when he was capped for Scotland.^[4] He was playing for them in March 1893 but it was remarked that he was just 'helping out' the side.^[5]

Provincial career[]

Davidson was selected for Edinburgh District to play against North of Scotland District on 12 December 1891,^[6] but the match was called off due to frost.^[7]

He did play in the North of Scotland District match against Midlands District on 26 November 1892.^[8] The Scottish Referee noted that Davidson and Trotter were conspicuous in the match for the North side, between them securing a try.^[9]

In the other direction, Davidson was selected for North of Scotland District to play against Edinburgh District on 10 December 1892,^[10] but the match was called off due to snow.^[11] He was again selected for North of Scotland District to play against South of Scotland District on 14 January 1893^[12] but again this match was also called off.

He played for East of Scotland District in their match against West of Scotland District on 21 January 1893.^[13][14]

International career[]

He was capped once for Scotland in 1893.^[15]

Referee career[]

He refereed a North of Scotland District versus Edinburgh Wanderers match on 21 March 1896.^[16]

He was a linesman, or touch judge or assistant referee, for the Cities versus Provinces match of January 1899.^[17]

He was also a touch-judge in the international Scotland v Ireland match in 1903,^[18] and in the Scotland v England match that same year.^[19]

Administrative career[]

He was elected a North of Scotland District representative on the board of the Scottish Rugby Union in October 1898.^[20]

Davidson sent his apologies to the North of Scotland District when they organised a dinner to celebrate Mr. John M. Fyfe, their secretary, on 18 February 1899.^[21]

Davidson was elected President of Perthshire in 1901.^[22]

He was made Honorary Vice-President of Perthshire in 1902.^[23]

Davidson was the 29th President of the Scottish Rugby Union. He served the 1902–1903 term in office.^[24]

Outside of rugby[]

Davidson became a Minister of the Church of Scotland.^[25] He took over at Kinfauns Parish Church on his father's death - his father, C. S. Davidson, was also a Minister - and left Aberdeen in 1894.^[26] All of Davidson's ministry was at Kinfauns with the exception of two years when he was assistant at Aberdeen St. Nicholas. He did join the Territorial Army and was a chaplain there for 25 years.^[27]

Davidson announced his intention to retire as a minister at the start of February 1955. That month, he died a day after his birthday at Burghmuir Hospital in Perth, after being taken ill a few days before. He was able to talk to visiting friends who arrived for his birthday.^[28]

References[]