J.S. Thomson
Encyclopedia
J.S. Thomson was a rugby union
international who represented Scotland
in the first international rugby match in 1871.
in 1871 and 1872. At that time the club did not have open membership and had only been formed three years previous as a club for old pupils of Glasgow Academy. The strong implication is that he therefore attended Glasgow Academy, and given this was not a boarding school, lived in Glasgow. Some records suggest he also played for St Andrews University and therefore may have attended that university also.
In 1872 J S Thomson was also part of another historic first rugby encounter when he was selected as part of the representative side of Glasgow, to face a representative side from Edinburgh. This was the inaugural inter-city match between Glasgow and Edinburgh, that today is known as the 1872 Cup and has the distinction of being the oldest inter-city rugby competition in the world.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who represented Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in the first international rugby match in 1871.
Early life
Little is known of J.S. Thomson's early life. He is recorded as having played for Glasgow AcademicalsGlasgow Academicals RFC
The Glasgow Academical Football Club is one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Scotland. This history is notable for a number of reasons, including the clubs longevity, its early foundation in the timeline of rugby, and the fact that the club produced many internationals...
in 1871 and 1872. At that time the club did not have open membership and had only been formed three years previous as a club for old pupils of Glasgow Academy. The strong implication is that he therefore attended Glasgow Academy, and given this was not a boarding school, lived in Glasgow. Some records suggest he also played for St Andrews University and therefore may have attended that university also.
Rugby union career
J.S. Thomson was selected to play in the first international rugby match in 1871 between Scotland and England. This was played on 27 March 1871 at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh and won by Scotland. Certain records for the match indicate that he played for Glasgow Academicals at the time, whilst others suggest that he was a University of St Andrews RFC player. It is possible that he was not exclusive to one or the other and therefore may have played for both. In Francis Marshall's 1892 publication, Football; the Rugby union game, he is listed as playing for St Andrews as well, although on one occasion he is referred to as J Thompson in a picture of the 1871 Scotland side and on another occasion he is referred to as W Thomson.In 1872 J S Thomson was also part of another historic first rugby encounter when he was selected as part of the representative side of Glasgow, to face a representative side from Edinburgh. This was the inaugural inter-city match between Glasgow and Edinburgh, that today is known as the 1872 Cup and has the distinction of being the oldest inter-city rugby competition in the world.