John Rutherford (rugby union)


John Young Rutherford, nicknamed Rud or Ruddie, is a former Scottish rugby union player who gained 42 caps at fly-half between 1979 and 1987. He played for Selkirk RFC and South of Scotland, and was chosen to tour with the British Lions in 1983, being picked to play in the test team at inside centre.

Rugby career

Richard Bath writes of him that:
He was a major figure in Scotland's 1984 Grand Slam.
In the warm up for the 1987 world cup he injured his knee in an unofficial game against Bermuda. He consequently didn't last long in the opening game for in the 1987 World Cup against. This proved to be his last international appearance He partnered scrum-half Roy Laidlaw in 35 tests, at the time the record for any international half-back pairing.
Richard Bath writes of this partnership that:
Rutherford also played for the Rest of the World XV.
After his exit from Scottish Rugby, John Rutherford went on to work in the financial sector, and direct a financial consultancy
He is a Director of The Bill McLaren Foundation alongside Andy Irvine.