E ANDERSON

1947 - Ireland and England

Ernie Anderson played in the school XV in 1935-36 and became first choice scrum half when he joined the FP's until the outbreak of the war. His first representative honour was playing for Edinburgh in the 1938 Inter-city match. During the war he served in the Royal Air Force for whom he played Inter Services games and played for Scotland against England in the Services International at Twickenham in 1944.

Returning to the club in 1946 he was elected vice captain and was an outstanding personality in the Stewart's championship winning side of 1946-47. He played in the final trial and was capped against Ireland and England

He did not gain any further caps but he was reserve on several other ocassions and in 1951 captained Edinburgh in the Inter-city matches and for the Cities XV against the touring Springboks. He was a brilliant sevens player and figured in many Border triumphs

Sadly, a severe injury in the opening game of 1952 caused him to retire from rugby and the game lost one of its outstanding personalities whose sporting attitude both on and off the field was always exemplary.

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