Angus Buchanan (rugby union)

Angus Buchanan

Birth name	Angus Buchanan
Date of birth	(1847-01-15)15 January 1847
Place of birth	Inveraray, Scotland
Date of death	21 February 1927(1927-02-21) (aged 80)
Place of death	Inveraray, Scotland
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Royal HSFP () – Edinburgh University () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) Edinburgh District () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1871 Scotland 1 Refereeing career Years Competition Apps Scottish Districts
7th President of the Scottish Rugby Union
In office 1879–1880
Preceded by	George Raphael Fleming
Succeeded by	David Watson

Angus Buchanan (15 January 1847 – 21 February 1927)^[1] was a Scottish international rugby and cricket player. One of the earliest Scottish players, he was capped for Scotland in 1871.

He also played simultaneously for Royal High School FP,^[2] and Edinburgh University.^[3]

Buchanan played for Edinburgh District.

Buchanan played in the first ever Scotland side,^[3] and scored the first try in international rugby,^[4] after a deemed failed attempt by George Ritchie.^[5] Scotland had pushed a scrum over the English try-line, and Buchanan had fallen on the ball.^[6]

This was converted by William Cross, which created the score (crucially because it was goals that counted, not tries).^[5] The English argued that the try should not stand, but it was awarded by the umpire Dr Hely Hutchinson Almond (also a Scot - the umpires were two on the field: one from each side)^[6]

Almond made a questionable justification of his decision:

"Let me make a confession: I do not know whether the decision which gave Scotland the try from which the winning goal was kicked was correct in fact. When an umpire is in doubt, I think he is justified in deciding against the side which makes the most noise. They are probably in the wrong."^[6]

According to one of the English players:

"After a maul, just outside the English goal-line the umpires ordered the ball to be put down in the scrummage five yards outside the line. It was taken was out accordingly, but, instead of putting it down, the Scottish forwards drove the entire scrummage into goal, and then grounded the ball and claimed a try. This, though illegal according to English laws, was allowed by the umpires and the goal was kicked by Cross."^[7]

According to confirmed records, Buchanan was the first Scotland player born, in January, 1847, and was twenty four years and two months old when capped.^[8]

Buchanan became an international referee. He refereed the Scotland versus Ireland match on 14 February 1880.^[9]

Buchanan also played for the Scotland national cricket team.^[2]

In fiction, Buchanan is a part of the larger Harry Potter universe, appearing in an excerpt written by J.K. Rowling for the Pottermore website. According to this, Angus Buchanan was born in a wizarding family, but was non-magical (i.e. a Squib). Also, he is supposed to have published a "path breaking" book called My Life as a Squib, which highlighted his struggles to survive in a community which disowned him and the way he found a home in the Muggle world.^[10][11]

• List of Scottish cricket and rugby union players

Sources