Gordon Waddell

Gordon Waddell, who has died aged 75 after a series of illnesses, was not only one of Scotland's most distinguished rugby captains but also a highly successful businessman and a courageous politician in South Africa, the country where he met and married his first wife, Mary Oppenheimer, one of the world's richest heiresses.

Born in Glasgow and educated at St Mary's Melrose and Fettes College, Edinburgh, he was the son of Herbert Waddell, another legend of the game who was also president of the Scottish Rugby Union, as well as a prominent Glasgow stockbroker.

After leaving Fettes, Waddell junior did his national service as a Royal Marine Commando and then attended Cambridge University. A fly-half, he won three rugby blues for Cambridge, with the 1961 team being considered one of the university's strongest ever sides. Between 1957 and 1962 he played 18 times for Scotland, toured twice with the British Lions and played for the Barbarians a dozen times.

His first cap came in the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham and he captained the national side on five occasions. In particular he won high praise for his performance against Wales in 1962, the first time Scotland had beaten the Welsh since the 1920s. He played 20 times for the British Lions in that time, with two test caps to his name.

His first tour with the Lions was hampered by injury and university exams but he scored seven tries in 10 games on the New Zealand leg of the 1959 tour.

His second tour was to South Africa, a place he would later call home, and it was here he won his two Lions test caps.

It was on a visit to South Africa that he first met Mary Oppenheimer, daughter of the country's outstanding business figure, Harry Oppenheimer, whose business and financial empire included the de Beer diamonds. (The family had a 95% interest in the world's supply of diamonds.)

He then trained at the Stamford Business School in California before returning to South Africa and marrying Miss Oppenheimer. The wedding created such a stir in Johannesburg that police reinforcements had to be called to control the crowds.

He became a great favourite of his new father-in-law who engaged him in his business empire, first with the Anglo American Corporation and then with Johannesburg Consolidated Investments (JCI). He also held several other senior positions on the boards of prominent South African companies. Alongside his business interests Mr Waddell also forged a career in South African politics and was elected to the South African Parliament in April 1974 by winning the constituency of Johannesburg North for the Progressive Party, a liberal party led by Helen Suzman that opposed the ruling National Party's policies of apartheid.

When his first marriage broke up, Mr Oppenheimer maintained his support for his former son-in-law and kept him on at JCI and he rose to be chairman.

For the rest of his life Mr Oppenheimer kept contact with the Waddell family in Glasgow, also visiting their other home in Gullane. Indeed his widow, who is still alive at 93, retains a house in Eton Square, London to this day.

Following the break-up of his first marriage, Mr Waddell married Kathy, another South African, and in 1987 he and his second wife moved to Scotland to live near Kelso, with the purpose of having his children educated in this country.

That brought him back in closer contact with his two brothers, Robin and Alan, who, like their father, were partners in the Glasgow stockbroking firm of Speirs and Jeffrey in Renfield Street. He later moved to London and was on the boards of Gartmore Scotland Investment Trust (1991-2001); Tor Investment Trust (1992-96); Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (1992-2006); Shanks Group (formerly Shanks & McEwan), which he helped to restructure.

He was also a director with Cadbury Schweppes 1988-97; the Scottish National Trust (1988-96) and London and Strathclyde Trust (1989-96).

He is survived by his wife Kathy, Victoria and Rebecca from his first marriage and Inca, Justine and Jamie from the second. Funeral services are being arranged in London and South Africa.