John "Jock" William Cleet Turner (28 September 1943 – 19 May 1992) was a international rugby union footballer.Bath, p162 His regular playing positions were fly-half, centre and fullback. Turner was capped twenty times for Scotland between 1966 and 1971, winnings six caps at fly-half, thirteen as a centre and one at

fullback Fullback or Full back may refer to: Sports * A position in various kinds of football, including: ** Full-back (association football), in association football (soccer), a defender playing in a wide position ** Fullback (gridiron football), in Americ ...

.Massie, pp150-1 He scored two tries for Scotland. Richard Bath writes of him that: :"''Although he was at his height a decade before John Rutherford appeared on the scene, Gala's Jock Turner shared many similarities with the Selkirk legend, not least the Borders school of hard knocks in which they plied their trade on a domestic level. A regular with the great Gala sevens of the 1960s, Turner had a huge boot on him, but was equally at home running at opposition defences, as he did to such effect in Scotland's 14–3 loss to the touring All Blacks in 1967.''" Turner was selected for the

1968 British Lions tour to South Africa In 1968 the British Lions toured South Africa. The tour was not successful in terms of international results, the Lions losing the Test series against South Africa by three matches to nil, with the other match drawn. The Lions won 15 of their ...

and played in all four internationals against . In 1971, he helped Scotland win their first victory at Twickenham for 33 years. Turner played club rugby for Gala. Allan Massie writes of him that: :"''His best season for Scotland may have been his last when he played fly-half partnered by bis clubmate Duncan Paterson, but his best position was probably centre...'' :"''Turner was always inclined to be underrated, and he was neither spectacular nor readily recognizable as his contemporaries Rea or Frame. But he was sounder than either, an utterly reliable handler and a magnificent tackler, and a much better kicker. His virtues were indeed only beginning to be recognized when he retired... one touchline try against at Twickenham was scored in the narrowest imaginable space. He scored another try against England the next year with a clean breakthrough after a scissors with Ian Robertson.''" Turner died suddenly after a days fishing with the legendary Welsh rugby player Gareth Edwards.

References

* * Massie, Allan ''A Portrait of Scottish Rugby'' (Polygon, Edinburgh; ) 1943 births 1992 deaths Scottish rugby union players Rugby union centres Rugby union fly-halves Rugby union fullbacks British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland Scotland international rugby union players Gala RFC players Rugby union players from Scottish Borders {{Scotland-rugbyunion-bio-stub