Angus Buchanan

Who was Angus Buchanan?

Angus Buchanan 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, and the Edinburgh University RFC.

He played in the first ever Scotland side, and scored the first try in international rugby, after a failed attempt by G. Ritchie. Scotland had pushed a scrum over the English try-line, and Buchanan had fallen on the ball.

This was converted by William Cross, which created the score. The English argued that the try shold not stand, but it was awarded by the umpire Dr Hely Hutchinson Almond

Almond made a questionable justification of his decision:

According to one of the English players:

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.

Buchanan also played for the Scotland national cricket team.