George Ritchie was born in Dundee in 1909 and was educated at the High School of Dundee and at Strathallan School in Perthshire. He became the first player to be capped for Scotland while playing out of Dundee HSFP RFC when he was selected to play as a forward against England in the 1932 Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham on March 19th. George was one of four Scotland debutants in a match where England ran out winners by 16-3 in front of an attendance of 65,000.

George Ritchie (front row, centre) captained Dundee HSFP in seasons 1928/29, 1929/30 and 1930/31 (when they won the Midlands League in the Club’s Golden Jubilee season). We are indebted to the DHSFPRFC Centenary Souvenir 1880-1980 booklet which notes that GF Ritchie (Dundee High School FP) was among the Scottish final trial teams published in the “Courier and Advertiser” of January 11 1930. The Centenary book goes on to note “There was no cap on this occasion for D.H.S.F.P, George F Ritchie, but his work in the scrum went into the book for the future. International honour came his way in the match against England at a Twickenham in 1932. (The picture shows George being presented to the Duke of York)

The same Centenary Souvenir book refers to George in a match played on November 22 1930 with a result of North 3 (one try), South 3 (one try). It notes “The Courier of November 24 reported that the conditions made it a survival of the fittest in sleet, snow, and ooze. Very few of the numbers on the jerseys could be distinguished.” The report continued “George Ritchie (DHSFP) was in great form - Head down, the ball under his arm, and ploughing through the mud.” - That snippet epitomises his heart and his commitment to the game.

George was Club President for five seasons, including the Club’s 75th Anniversary season and latterly served as Honorary President of the Club for many years until his death in 1993 aged 84. George is the grandfather of Dundee HSFP and Scottish rugby player Andy Nicol and the father in law of former Dundee HSFP player Dave Nicol, Andy’s dad, whose wife Kathleen was one of George’s two daughters, the other being Maureen. Also present at the induction ceremony were George’s sons Fraser and Douglas, as well as another grandson, Fraser’s son Neil, who also played for Dundee HSFP.

Christopher William Wallace Rea

Christopher William Wallace Rea (born 22 October 1943) attended the High School of Dundee. He was capped 13 times for Scotland at centre, scoring three tries, including the winning try in the 1971 Calcutta Cup at Twickenham. He toured Australia and New Zealand with the 1971 British Lions, at the time playing club rugby for Headingley FC in Leeds having previously played for West of Scotland F.C. and DHSFP RFC. That Lions side is referred to by many as the greatest ever to leave these shores and one which won the admiration of the rugby world by the magnificent achievement of becoming the first and only Lions side ever to win a test series in New Zealand. Although picked as a centre, Chris played mostly as fly-half during the tour due to injuries in the squad. He played 10 games for the tourists and scored three tries.

Chris’ first Scotland cap was won in the 9 - 3 victory against Australia in November 1968 and signalled the start of a four year Scotland career that ended as it had begun, in victory, this time 26 - 6 against England on March 27, 1971 in the game marking that particular fixture’s centenary. Not only did Chris score a try in the game but it was his second victory over England in a week, having been part of the team that won the previous week’s 5 Nations meeting between the two sides.

After his playing career ended, Chris became a highly successful sports journalist at the BBC and elsewhere before applying his communication skills as the IRB media manager.

International Rugby Union Caps

Career Record:
Played 13: Won 5, Drew 0, Lost 8.
Test Points: 9.
Tries: 3.

1968 v Australia (Murrayfield) W 9-3
1969 v France (Paris) W 6-3 (FN)
1969 v Wales (Murrayfield) L 17-3 (FN)
1969 v Ireland (Murrayfield) L 16-6 (FN)
1969 v South Africa (Murrayfield) W 6-3
1970 v France (Murrayfield) L 11-9 (FN)
1970 v Wales (Cardiff) L 18-9 (FN)
1970 v Ireland (Dublin) L 16-11 (FN)
1970 v Australia (Sydney) L 23-3
1971 v France (Paris) L 13-8 (FN)
1971 v Wales (Murrayfield) L 19-18 (FN)
1971 v England (Twickenham) W 16-15 (FN)
1971 v England (Centenary Match)
(Murrayfield) W 26-6

David George Leslie

While studying to become an architect, David George Leslie was first capped against Ireland in 1975, while playing out of Dundee HSFP RFC, then in the Fourth Division of Scottish Rugby. After his first two seasons, due to a succession of injuries, he did not become a regular in the Scotland squad again until 1981. Equally at home at either flanker or No.8, he also played for West of Scotland and Gala, represented his country on 32 occasions, captaining them 3 times, and is revered as one of the most focussed and fearless players of his generation.

A great reader of the game, his tackling and taking of the ball was spectacular. Central to the 1984 Grand Slam campaign, he also scored Scotland’s first try against Romania that year –his second score for Scotland – and was voted Rugby World’s Player of the Year. He went on to coach Dundee HSFP and the Scotland u n d e r - 2 1 s i d e following retirement from playing.

He played in the last Scotland side to win at Twickenham, in 1983 winning 22 – 12.

International Rugby Union Caps
Career Record:
Played 32: Won 14, Drew 1, Lost 17.
Test Points: 8.
Tries: 2.

1975 v Ireland (Murrayfield) W 20-13 (FN)
1975 v France (Paris) L 10-9 (FN)
1975 v Wales (Murrayfield) W 12-10 (FN)
1975 v England (Twickenham) L 7-6 (FN)
1975 v New Zealand (Auckland) L 24-0
1975 v Australia (Murrayfield) W10-3
1976 v France Murrayfield) L 13-6 (FN)
1976 v Wales (Cardiff) L 28-6 (FN)
1976 v England (Murrayfield) W 22-12 (FN)
1976 v Ireland (Dublin) W 15-6 (FN)
1978 v New Zealand (Murrayfield) L 18-9 (FN)
1980 v England (Murrayfield) L 30-18 (FN)
1981 v Wales (Murrayfield) W 15-6 (FN)
1981 v England (Twickenham) L 23-17 (FN)
1981 v Ireland (Murrayfield) W 10-9 (FN)
1981 v New Zealand (Dunedin) L 11-4
1981 v New Zealand (Auckland) L 40-15
1981 v Romania (Murrayfield) W 12-6
1981 v Australia (Murrayfield) W 24-15
1982 v England (Murrayfield) D 9-9 (FN)
1983 v Ireland (Murrayfield) L 15-13 (FN)
1983 v France (Paris) L 19-15 (FN)
1983 v Wales (Murrayfield) L 19-15 (FN)
1983 v England (Twickenham) W 22-12 (FN)
1984 v Wales (Cardiff) W 15-9 (FN)
1984 v England (Murrayfield) W 18-6 (FN)
1984 v Ireland (Dublin) W 32-9 (FN)
1984 v France (Murrayfield) W 21-12 (FN)
1984 v Romania (Bucharest) L 28-22
1985 v France (Paris) L 11-3 (FN)
1985 v Wales (Murrayfield) L 25-21 (FN)
1985 v England (Twickenham) L 10-7 (FN)