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)
St Andrews University ()
Army Rugby Union ()
London Scottish ()
Leicester Tigers ()
Coventry ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1953-58 Scotland 17 (3)

Rugby union career

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Amateur career

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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

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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

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

Other sports

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Tennis

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

Golf

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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

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He represented the Army at athletics.[2]

Business

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

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

References

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  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".