Colin Blaikie (born 21 November 1941) is a former

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

international rugby union player.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He played for Heriot's.

Provincial career

He played for Edinburgh District. He was part of the Edinburgh side that won the

1962–63 Scottish Inter-District Championship The 1962–63 Scottish Inter-District Championship was a rugby union competition for Scotland's district teams. This season saw the tenth formal Scottish Inter-District Championship. Edinburgh District won the competition with 3 wins.Rowans R ...

, scoring in every match - and part of the Edinburgh side that beat

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

that same season. He played for the

Whites Trial White is a racial classification of people generally used for those of predominantly European ancestry. It is also a skin color specifier, although the definition can vary depending on context, nationality, ethnicity and point of view. De ...

side in their matches against the

Blues Trial Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

to determine international selection. He turned out for Whites in their 2nd trial match in 1962-63 season. He played for the Cities District in 1966 in their match against Australia. Australia won 18–11. He played for the combined Scottish Districts side in their match against New Zealand in 1967. The combined side lost 35–14, although at one point Blaikie's conversion had the Scottish Districts side winning 11–10.

International career

He played for

from 1963 to 1969. After his first two caps in 1963, he was ditched by Scotland. He was said to have only been picked when Scotland experimented by playing full back Ken Scotland at fly-half. Returning to international duty in 1966, he was deemed the 'forgotten man' - and was only picked by the selectors then after Stewart Wilson pulled out of the squad with tonsilitis - but Blaikie made an impressive showing against England in Scotland's 6-3 Calcutta Cup win at Murrayfield that year. At the time, Blaikie was not first choice for Edinburgh District, nor had played in any Trial matches that season. The English press blamed their own fly half

Mike Weston Michael Philip Weston (21 August 1938 – 24 December 2023) was an international rugby union player and captain. Weston was capped twenty-nine times for England between 1960 and 1968, winning twenty-four caps as a Centre (rugby union), centre ...

for the Calcutta Cup loss; saying his inaccurate tactial kicking 'made Blaikie look like a world-beater'. Playing against Australia in 1968, it was said that he performed 'quietly and efficiently' in a 9–3 win for Scotland, and kicked two penalties in a swirling wind. He kicked a 35-yard penalty that helped Scotland on the way to a 6–3 win over France in January 1969. Although he was in the losing side in Scotland's match against Wales in February 1969 it was reported that Blaikie came through with his reputation 'untarnished'. His last match for Scotland - against England at Twickenham in March 1969 - was deemed 'disastrous'. Blaikie failed to clear his lines and missed 3 kickable penalties. As a result, it was England that won the match 8–3. He was in a Scotland XV select that later toured South Africa that year. It was reported that Blaikie had a great tour, and scored against an Argentine select side. He remained in the Scotland reckoning for a couple of years after this; and was originally selected to face England at Twickenham again in 1971 (when Ian Smith was dropped), but injury prevented further caps.

Family

His son Paul Blaikie was a golfer based in South Africa; but often played in Scotland's Amateur Championships.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blaikie, Colin 1941 births Living people Scottish rugby union players Scotland international rugby union players Whites Trial players Heriot's Rugby Club players Cities District players Edinburgh District (rugby union) players Scottish Districts (combined) players Rugby union players from Edinburgh Rugby union fullbacks