John Spence Swan, known as Ian Swan (14 July 1930 – 18 September 2004) was a Scottish international rugby union player. He played as a Wing.[1]

Ian Swan
Birth nameJohn Spence Swan
Date of birth(1930-07-14)14 July 1930
Place of birthSt Andrews, Scotland
Date of death18 September 2004(2004-09-18) (aged 74)
Place of deathSt Andrews Scotland
SchoolMadras College
UniversityUniversity of St Andrews
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
- ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1953-58 17 (3)

Rugby union career edit

Amateur career edit

He played rugby at Madras College, his school.[2]

Moving to University, he played rugby for St. Andrews University.[2]

After university Swan joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the army. He played for the Army Rugby Union side.[3]

Swan played for London Scottish.[3]

In the 1950s the Scotland selectors only considered selection for the national team if the players played in Scotland or for London Scottish.[4] Yet Swan moved to play for the Leicester Tigers which he captained.[3]

Swan then played for Coventry.[5][6]

International career edit

He was capped for Scotland 17 times from 1953 to 1958.[7]

In 1955 he turned down an opportunity to play for the British and Irish Lions.[2]

Administration edit

Swan became a Vice President of Hawick then Jedforest.[8]

Other sports edit

Tennis edit

Swan won a Scottish mixed doubles title.[8] He represented the South of Scotland at tennis.[2]

Golf edit

A keen golfer, he was a member of the Royal and Ancient Club in St Andrews from 1963. He won the Queen Victoria Jubilee Vase in 1985.[8]

He was also a member of the Castelnaud-de-Gratecambe golf club in Lot et Garonne France.[8]

Athletics edit

He represented the Army at athletics.[2]

Business edit

He became a Director at Pringle in Hawick.[8]

He later launched Kall-Kwik Printing franchises in Edinburgh.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "John Spence Swan".
  2. ^ a b c d e "University of St Andrews Rugby Football Club". Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c The Essential History of Rugby Union: Scotland. Nick Oswald and John Griffiths.
  4. ^ Barnes, David; Burns, Peter; Griffiths, John (19 January 2016). Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland. Birlinn Ltd. ISBN 9780857906014 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "London Scottish FC".
  6. ^ Reid, Alasdair. "Murray doubtful for Scotland Test after surgery".
  7. ^ "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Ian Swan - Test matches".
  8. ^ a b c d e f "JS 'Ian' Swan".