Scottish Rugby is saddened to hear of the death of former Scotland international team doctor Clark Sharp, who passed away peacefully, on 20 November 2009. He was in his late seventies.

Clark was a consultant epidemiologist at Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow. Educated at Daniel Stewart’s College his passion for the oval ball game spanned 60 years and he relished the label “rugby man.” With the exception of refereeing and playing at international level he did it all as a player at schoolboy, club and district level. He also contributed to the game as committee man, coach and team doctor. Most notably he was doctor at Stewart’s FP and with the Scotland national team.  

Clark played every position on the rugby field in his career but was most recognised as a prop and wing forward where he played for Edinburgh between 1951 and 1960 - and they never lost a match in which he played. He was also recognised as a distinguished goal kicker.

As a coach Clark never had formal qualifications which he believed suited his game as he described himself as “never the most conventional of players.”

In 1973 Clark was invited to coach and advise the All Blacks at the Scottish Rugby Union Centenary Sevens. He educated the team at the North British hotel about the differences between sevens and the 15-a-side game. New Zealand lost their first tie to eventual winners Ireland but won their remaining matches and were unlucky not to progress to the final.

In 1969 Clark joined Scottish Rugby’s medical team and by 1977 Clark was asked to go with the Scotland team to France and for the next 14 seasons he shared duties with Donald MacLeod and Brian Slawson during which period the nation had their more successful period with two grand slams in 1984 and 1990.

Scottish Rugby expresses its sincere condolences to Clark Sharp’s family and friends.