Roddy Grant (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Roderick 'Roddy' Robert Grant is a rugby union player with Edinburgh and Scotland sevens
. During the 2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series, Grant took over as captain from the injured Scott Forrest and went on to captain Edinburgh at the start of the 2010–2011 Magners League campaign.
and soon after moved to Cape Town
, South Africa
. He attended Western Province Prep
School where he started playing rugby at the age of 11. From there he moved onto Bishops
where he continued his sporting career. It was here that Grant was selected to play for the South African U15 and U16 waterpolo sides. Halfway through his high school career he moved out of the Western Cape to the Midlands of Natal to attend Hilton College.
It was here that his rugby career really started to take shape moving from the centres to the back row. Grant played for the school's first XV as well as the Natal Schools side. Upon completing high school, Grant moved to Scotland where he began his professional career.
in summer 2006 as an apprentice, and the following January he made his debut for the professional team as a substitute in the Magners League match against Newport Gwent Dragons
at Rodney Parade. He was awarded the 2008 John Macphail Scholarship, allowing him to have a summer playing for Auckland University
club in New Zealand.
Grant started as open-side flanker in all five of Scotland’s matches in the IRB Under 19 World Championship in Dubai in April 2006. Later that year he made his international sevens debut for Scotland in the Dubai tournament which opened the IRB’s 2006–2007 series. He played in six of the tournaments in that series. That season, too, he had his Scotland under-20 debut in the February 2007 match against the English at Bath, and he continued in that team for the game against the French in Bourg-en-Bresse.
In November 2008 he was the Scottish Thistles’ joint-top scorer with 45 points (nine tries) in the Singapore international sevens, and he went on to play in the Scotland squad in the 2008–2009 IRB tournaments in Wellington (New Zealand), San Diego (USA), Hong Kong, Adelaide, Twickenham and Murrayfield as well as the RWC Sevens in Dubai, where he scored four tries in helping Scotland to win the Plate competition. Over the 2008–2009 sevens season he scored 23 tries, and his points tally of 115 was second only to Colin Gregor
’s 171.
Grant also played two games for Scotland A
in the IRB Nations Cup success in Bucharest in June 2009. His debut was as a replacement in the win against Russia, and his first start followed four days later in the victory against Uruguay. That same month he signed a professional contact with Edinburgh, and his Scotland A career continued with a replacement appearance in the 38–7 win against Tonga at Netherdale, Galashiels, in November 2009.
Rugby runs in Roddy's family: his grandfather (Bob) and great-uncle (George) were international referees, the latter was also Scotland full back in 1950 and 1951 and manager of the 1977 Lions
in New Zealand, and Grant's father played for British Universities.
Scotland national rugby union team (sevens)
The Scottish national rugby union sevens team compete in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.During 2006, the side were in danger of no longer competing in the Sevens World Series due to the financial problems faced by the Scottish Rugby Union...
. During the 2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series, Grant took over as captain from the injured Scott Forrest and went on to captain Edinburgh at the start of the 2010–2011 Magners League campaign.
Early life
Grant was born in BotswanaBotswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and soon after moved to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He attended Western Province Prep
Western Province Prep
Western Province Preparatory School is an independent preparatory school for boys in Cape Town, South Africa.- History :...
School where he started playing rugby at the age of 11. From there he moved onto Bishops
Diocesan College
The Diocesan College, or Bishops as it is more commonly known, is an independent, all-boys school situated in the suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa...
where he continued his sporting career. It was here that Grant was selected to play for the South African U15 and U16 waterpolo sides. Halfway through his high school career he moved out of the Western Cape to the Midlands of Natal to attend Hilton College.
It was here that his rugby career really started to take shape moving from the centres to the back row. Grant played for the school's first XV as well as the Natal Schools side. Upon completing high school, Grant moved to Scotland where he began his professional career.
Career
He joined Border ReiversBorder Reivers (Rugby)
Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' and also known as 'The Borders' were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors....
in summer 2006 as an apprentice, and the following January he made his debut for the professional team as a substitute in the Magners League match against Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
at Rodney Parade. He was awarded the 2008 John Macphail Scholarship, allowing him to have a summer playing for Auckland University
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
club in New Zealand.
Grant started as open-side flanker in all five of Scotland’s matches in the IRB Under 19 World Championship in Dubai in April 2006. Later that year he made his international sevens debut for Scotland in the Dubai tournament which opened the IRB’s 2006–2007 series. He played in six of the tournaments in that series. That season, too, he had his Scotland under-20 debut in the February 2007 match against the English at Bath, and he continued in that team for the game against the French in Bourg-en-Bresse.
In November 2008 he was the Scottish Thistles’ joint-top scorer with 45 points (nine tries) in the Singapore international sevens, and he went on to play in the Scotland squad in the 2008–2009 IRB tournaments in Wellington (New Zealand), San Diego (USA), Hong Kong, Adelaide, Twickenham and Murrayfield as well as the RWC Sevens in Dubai, where he scored four tries in helping Scotland to win the Plate competition. Over the 2008–2009 sevens season he scored 23 tries, and his points tally of 115 was second only to Colin Gregor
Colin Gregor
Colin Gregor is a Scottish rugby union player for Glasgow Warriors in the RaboDirect Pro12. He has represented Scotland A and the Scotland 7s team. He started his playing career with Strathendrick RFC and moved to Ponsonby in New Zealand before returning to Scotland to play for Watsonians RFC in...
’s 171.
Grant also played two games for Scotland A
Scotland A national rugby union team
The Scotland A team are the second national rugby union team behind the Scottish national side.-History:Scotland's status as one of the leading rugby nations in the Northern Hemisphere, made the SRU to field a second team, first known as Scotland XV, and currently as Scotland A, which can play at...
in the IRB Nations Cup success in Bucharest in June 2009. His debut was as a replacement in the win against Russia, and his first start followed four days later in the victory against Uruguay. That same month he signed a professional contact with Edinburgh, and his Scotland A career continued with a replacement appearance in the 38–7 win against Tonga at Netherdale, Galashiels, in November 2009.
Rugby runs in Roddy's family: his grandfather (Bob) and great-uncle (George) were international referees, the latter was also Scotland full back in 1950 and 1951 and manager of the 1977 Lions
1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1977 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. The Lions played 26 matches, including four internationals against the All Blacks. They lost the series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. The team played as the British Isles in their internationals against the All Blacks...
in New Zealand, and Grant's father played for British Universities.