F CALDER

1986 - France, Wales, Ireland, England and Romania
1987 - France, Wales, Ireland, England, France, Zimbabwe, Romania and New Zealand
1988 - France, Wales, Ireland and England
1989 - France, Wales, Ireland, England and Romania
1990 - France, Wales, Ireland, England, France, New Zealand and New Zealand
1991 - Romania, Japan, Ireland, Western Samoa, England and New Zealand

If any single moment symbolized the Scottish team spirit and gritty determination in 1990’s Grand Slam decider it was surely the sight of Fin Calder, early on in the match, collecting a loose ball and driving hard into the English forwards. He was hit by thundering tackle but somehow stayed on his feet long enough for the Scottish pack to arrive in numbers and, with Calder still holding the ball, they drove through and over the English pack, upfield, where a kicked penalty sent them on their way to victory. These were skills and qualities that Finlay showed at school on the rugby pitch.

He and his twin brother Jim, dominated school rugby both playing for the 1st XV whilst still in 3rd year. Finlay and Jim played for Scottish schools in their fifth year of school. Finlay showed early signs of being an original thinker on and off the rugby pitch. Faced with an enormous English Schools pack in a match in Glasgow, he suggested that they only offer a front row at the scrums to nullify the huge English pack. In those days, such tactics were allowed, if rarely tried. The plan nearly worked as a bewildered English team chased shadows for an hour before snatching a late victory.

Calder was a late-comer to international rugby; his twin brother Jim’s international career was already over when Finlay broke into the international team in 1986. Calder, alongside Derek White and John Jeffrey, formed a back-row partnership which is possibly the best Scotland have ever produced. Calder was a devastating attacking flanker and a ruthless tackler – he was a full-backs’ worst nightmare, charging after a high, hoisted Garry Owen and arriving simultaneous with the ball.

Despite his late start Calder went on to win 34 caps between 1986 and his retiral after the 1991 World Cup, and this after taking an early season sabbatical following the 1989 British Lions tour of Australia. Calder was the first Scottish player to captain the Lions since Michael Campbell-Lamerton in 1966 and the first winning captain since Willie John McBride in 1974. After this triumph, the 1990 Grand Slam and the tour of New Zealand which followed, Calder was understandably exhausted and announced his retirement, but was finally coaxed back for the 1991 World Cup. That Calder felt he owed this debt of gratitude to coach Ian McGeechan indicates the qualities that made him such a terrific player; uncompromising commitment and loyalty, on and off the pitch.