Frans ten Bos
Encyclopedia
Frans Herman ten Bos was an English-born rugby union footballer, of Dutch ancestry. He played for as a lock in the 1960s, and was capped seventeen times. He is arguably the most successful Dutch rugby player prior to Tim Visser
and the professional era.
Ten Bos attended Fettes College
in Edinburgh
, where he was introduced to the game, and later played for Oxford University RFC
and London Scottish FC.
Ten Bos was controversially dropped before the Scotland- game in Dublin in 1960, because he was recovering from an injury. Yet according to Bill McLaren
, "he took part in all the preparatory activities and pronounced himself as fit to play. He certainly gave it 100 per cent during a vigorous session." Yet Alf Wilson, chairman of the selectors, did not think so, and he was replaced by Oliver Grant
of Hawick
. McLaren continues: "there was a feeling that ten Bos had been unfairly treated and that the lad himself was hurt and distressed by the decision to leave him out."
Notably, ten Bos scored a try against in Cardiff
, in the 1962 match there, which resulted in Scotland's first victory against Wales in an away game in thirty five years; the score was 8-3 to Scotland.
A famous story involving ten Bos and Hugh McLeod is told by Bill McLaren
. On the evening before the 1963 game between and at Colombes
in Paris
, Hugh McLeod and Bill McLaren were out having a meal together and bumped into ten Bos near a cafe. Hugh McLeod took Ten Bos aside, and told him bluntly:
Scotland later won the game 11-6, rare for an away game.
Ten Bos tapped McLaren on the shoulder as they left the cafe, and said, "You know, I'd follow him anywhere."
He later became Chairman of Henderson Strata Investments.
He is profiled in the August, 1973 edition of Rugby World
.
Tim Visser
Tim Visser is a Dutch rugby union player currently playing on the wing for Edinburgh Rugby in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup. He is the first Dutch rugby player to play professionally.-Early career:...
and the professional era.
Ten Bos attended Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where he was introduced to the game, and later played for Oxford University RFC
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
and London Scottish FC.
Ten Bos was controversially dropped before the Scotland- game in Dublin in 1960, because he was recovering from an injury. Yet according to Bill McLaren
Bill McLaren
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'...
, "he took part in all the preparatory activities and pronounced himself as fit to play. He certainly gave it 100 per cent during a vigorous session." Yet Alf Wilson, chairman of the selectors, did not think so, and he was replaced by Oliver Grant
Oliver Grant
Thomas Oliver Grant was a Scottish international rugby union player.He was capped for six times between 1960-64. He also played for Hawick RFC.His brother Derrick Grant was also capped for Scotland.-References:...
of Hawick
Hawick RFC
Hawick Rugby Football Club is a semi-professional rugby union side, currently playing in the Premiership Division One and Border League. The team are based at Mansfield Park at Hawick in the Scottish Borders....
. McLaren continues: "there was a feeling that ten Bos had been unfairly treated and that the lad himself was hurt and distressed by the decision to leave him out."
Notably, ten Bos scored a try against in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, in the 1962 match there, which resulted in Scotland's first victory against Wales in an away game in thirty five years; the score was 8-3 to Scotland.
A famous story involving ten Bos and Hugh McLeod is told by Bill McLaren
Bill McLaren
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'...
. On the evening before the 1963 game between and at Colombes
Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir
The Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir - stadium in Colombes, near Paris, France . Named in memory of French rugby player Yves du Manoir in 1928. Was the main stadium for the 1924 Summer Olympics and had a capacity of 45,000 at the time...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Hugh McLeod and Bill McLaren were out having a meal together and bumped into ten Bos near a cafe. Hugh McLeod took Ten Bos aside, and told him bluntly:
- "Frans, ye think ye're a guid forrit [forward] but really ye're jist a big lump o' potted meat. If ah was half yer size I'd pick up the first two Frenchman that looked at me the morn [tomorrow] and ah'd chuck them right ower the bloody stand."
Scotland later won the game 11-6, rare for an away game.
Ten Bos tapped McLaren on the shoulder as they left the cafe, and said, "You know, I'd follow him anywhere."
He later became Chairman of Henderson Strata Investments.
He is profiled in the August, 1973 edition of Rugby World
Rugby World
Rugby World is the world's top-selling rugby union magazine. It is published monthly by IPC Media and edited by Paul Morgan. Long considered a leader in the industry, the magazine has benefited from a worldwide rise in interest in rugby following the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup.-See also:* Bill...
.
Printed and Electronic Sources
- McLaren, Bill Talking of Rugby (1991, Stanley Paul, London ISBN 0 09 173875 X),
- Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh; ISBN 0 904919 84 6)
- Distinguished Pupils on Fettes.com