Scottish rugby internationalist

Born: April 13, 1925;

Died: July 16, 2016

JACK Hegarty, who has died aged 91, was one of that permanently tortured group of Scottish rugby caps who endured the long and painful period between 1951 and 1955, during which the national side lost 17 straight internationals.

Very much a Hawick “Teri”, born and raised in the town, like most Hawick youngsters, from an early age, he longed to wear the legendary green jersey. But he was one of the best components of “the Green Machine” who would go on to wear the red and white hoops of the South of Scotland and, in time, the navy blue of his country.

His Scotland debut came on January 13, 1951, in a narrow 14-12 loss to France in Paris. He had earned his cap, one of nine debutants on the day, via a barn-storming performance for the Reds, the junior side, in that season's final trial, and, with the other seven Scotland forwards, he won praise for a good performance in defeat in Paris.

However, consistency of selection was not a trait around Murrayfield back then and Hegarty was dropped for the next international: “Peter Kininmonth's Match”, as Scotland beat Wales at Murrayfield. That of course was the final Scottish victory before the long days of disaster. Hegarty sat out the first six matches in the run of losses, before being recalled for the visit to Paris in January, 1953. This time he was picked at second row. Again he left Paris disappointed, as France won 11-5.

This time, he kept his place, playing in the other three Five Nations matches that season, a 12-0 loss to Wales at Murrayfield, a 26-8 beating from Ireland at Lansdowne Road and a loss, by the same score, in the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham.

Come the 1954 Five Nations and, while two of his Hawick pack-mates, Hughie McLeod and Adam Robson, began their sterling international careers in the opening match, against France, at Murrayfield, Hegarty was out in the cold, remaining there for the entire 1954 campaign, before, he would again savour Paris in January with his recall, to lock the scrum alongside Hamish Kemp, in the 1955 Five Nations opener against France.

This was his final international, a 15-0 defeat. The selectors rang the changes and, lo and behold, the long run of defeats would end in the very next match, against Wales at Murrayfield. Jack Hegarty, however, continued to wear his beloved green jersey, and, in 1960, he was invited to join the legendary invitation team, the Barbarians, when invited to play in their annual trip to Wales.

Jack Hegarty gave a life time of service to Hawick, as player, captain, selector, committee member and general helper. He also had the great joy of seeing his son Brian follow him into the Hawick, South and Scotland XVs in 1978. Unfortunately, like his father, Brian Hegarty was never to taste victory in a Scotland jersey. John, Jack's elder son, also played for Hawick, before switching to Rugby League.

He had three seasons as captain of the Greens, in 1951-52, then again during the annus mirabilis of 1959-60, in which Hawick, after surrendering a 6-3 half-time lead, surprisingly lost to Glasgow HSFP, 14-9, at Mansfield Park in September, won their other 33 matches that season, scoring over 160 tries in the process, to clinch the then unofficial championship. He led them to another title the following season, before, aged 36, retiring after leading his side to victory in the Langholm Sevens.

With the South, he faced all three touring Southern Hemisphere nations, the Springboks, All Blacks and Wallabies.

Yet he had been a late graduate to the ranks of the Greens, making his debut in 1948-49. His progress was not helped by the Second World War. He had tried to join the Royal Navy, aged 16, but, on being turned down as too young, he joined the Royal Marines and saw active service, as well as surviving being ship-wrecked in the Mediterranean.

Back in Hawick, he spent his entire working life in the famous Pringle Knitwear factory. His leisure hours were spent either pottering around his garden, or, more often down at his beloved Mansfield, keeping the ground tidy, painting and generally maintaining the well-oiled Green Machine he played such a big part in building.

Jack Hegarty is survived by his wife Anna, children John, Brian and Donna and his grand-children and great-grand-children.

MATT VALLANCE