David Rollo (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
David Miller Durie Rollo was a prop forward who played for . Unusually for a Scotland internationalist, he came from Fife
.
As a prop, he could play both tight and loosehead:
Allan Massie
includes Rollo in his All-Time XV's reserves, saying "Rollo's ability to play on either side of the scrum would make him a natural member of the squad".
Rollo went to Bell Baxter High School
in Cupar
, and continues to support their rugby team. However, while at school, he preferred football.
Bill McLaren
witnessed Rollo's international debut, at the 1959 Calcutta Cup
game
Rollo played for Howe of Fife R.F.C. until he was 40.
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
.
As a prop, he could play both tight and loosehead:
- "the Fife farmer who always played with his stockings rolled down to his ankles, was strong and skilful enough to play on either side of the scrum."
Allan Massie
Allan Massie
Allan Massie is a well-known Scottish journalist, sports writer and novelist.-Early life:Born in 1938 in Singapore, where his father was a rubber planter for Sime Darby, Massie spent his childhood in Aberdeenshire...
includes Rollo in his All-Time XV's reserves, saying "Rollo's ability to play on either side of the scrum would make him a natural member of the squad".
Rollo went to Bell Baxter High School
Bell Baxter High School
Bell Baxter High School is a non-denominational comprehensive state school for 11-18 year olds in Cupar, Fife, Scotland.-School history:Bell Baxter High School was descended from the Cupar Grammar School and was founded in 1889 when the Madras Academy combined with the Sir David Baxter's Institute...
in Cupar
Cupar
Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is situated between Dundee and the New Town of Glenrothes.According to a recent population estimate , Cupar had a population around 8,980 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.-History:The town is believed to have...
, and continues to support their rugby team. However, while at school, he preferred football.
Bill McLaren
Bill McLaren
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'...
witnessed Rollo's international debut, at the 1959 Calcutta Cup
Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
game
- "That 1959 match, at which I shared the radio commentary was quite distinctive for the courage shown by the Fife farmer, David Rollo who was gaining his first cap out of the Howe of Fife club. Soon after the start David suffered a broken nose, but after a brief absence for repairs, he returned to play prop with undiminished fire. After that debut it hardly was surprising that David went on to gain 40 caps."
Rollo played for Howe of Fife R.F.C. until he was 40.