Rugby Career
Andy Irvine originally played for Heriot's Rugby Club.
As fullback for Scotland, he won 51 caps, between 1972-82 and scored ten tries. His first cap was against the All Blacks in December 1972.
He earned British and Irish Lions caps versus South Africa (1974), New Zealand (1977) and South Africa (1980). He also played for the Barbarians during their 1976 Easter Tour. In the 1974 tour, he adopted many South African tactics and styles of play, although JPR Williams was preferred as full back for the tests, limiting Irvine to two test appearances on the wing.
Irvine vies with Gavin Hastings for the title of Scotland's greatest ever fullback, with incisive running at a blistering pace from the back his trade mark. In fact most polls over the last 20 years have voted Irvine Scotland's greatest player, and he is generally considered one of the best, if not the best, attacking full backs of the modern era. His presence in the line often distracted defenders even when he did not have possession.
He is an inductee of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame and the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
Read more about this topic: Andy Irvine (rugby Union)
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