Scottish Rugby is saddened to learn of the death today of former Scotland scrum-half and team manager Duncan Paterson. He was 66.

Duncan Sinclair Paterson won ten caps for Scotland between 1969 and 1972. He was part of a winning Scotland team on his debut against South Africa in 1969 and never lost in all three matches he played against England. In addition he played in two non-cap games against Argentina in 1969 (winning the second Test in Buenos Aires) and a non-cap contest against the Barbarians in 1970.

Duncan Paterson (second from the right in the front row) with former Scotland team-mates at Murrayfield last month

Paterson was a guest of Scottish Rugby at the international against Argentina last month alongside some of his team-mates from that tour 40 years ago and was in ebullient form.

Famously he was a key member of the Scotland XVs who defeated England in successive weekends in 1971.  In the first match, at Twickenham, Paterson’s drop-goal and try were instrumental in securing a 16-15 victory – Scotland’s first there since 1938.

Then, a week later at Murrayfield, in a match to mark the centenary of the fixture, Paterson lined up alongside five of his Gala team-mates – John Frame, Arthur Brown, Nairn MacEwan, Peter Brown and Jock Turner – as Scotland posted a 26-6 success.

Paterson was also the linchpin of Gala’s domination of the seven-a-side circuit in the Borders in the late 1960s and early 1970s  and he went on to manage the Scotland 7s team at the inaugural Rugby World Cup 7s at Murrayfield in 1993.

On his retirement from playing, Paterson, who ran his own knitwear and textile business, then went on to serve his club, district and country as a committee man. He was first elected to the Scottish Rugby Union general committee in 1986 and went on to be appointed as Scotland team manager in succession to Bob Munro following the 1990 Grand Slam success.

As team manager Paterson took charge of the Scotland squads at the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cup tournaments, helping the team to a fourth place finish at the 1991 event.

Paterson was an influential figure within the management structure of Scottish Rugby following the IRB’s declaration of a professional game in 1995.

A strong-willed personality, he never shirked tough decisions – the 1998 merger of the four districts to two as Scottish Rugby wrestled with a demanding financial climate.

Paterson stepped down from the SRU General Committee in 1998 seeking to put his family first.  His deep love of rugby however remained and he was a regular spectator at Netherdale, taking in the Gala v Hawick Scottish Hydro Premier 2 match as recently as last weekend.

He also took great pride in the achievements of his nephew, Scotland’s most-capped player and record points’ scorer, Chris Paterson.

SRU President Jim Stevenson said today:  “Duncan Paterson was a true rugby man who gave a lifetime of service to the game, firstly as a gifted player and then in a variety of off-field roles for club, district and country, always seeking to recognise the big picture.

“On behalf of Scottish Rugby I extend our sincere sympathies to his family and friends.”