Gary Armstrong (born 30 September 1966 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish rugby union player who played scrum-half. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 Jed-Forest Rugby Football Club are a Rugby union team who are based at Riverside Park in Jedburgh. A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports See also Border Reivers for the historical background Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' were one of four professional The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. The following is a list of international Rugby union teams A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports In 1989 the British Lions toured Australia for the first time since 1971. The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international Rugby union. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short A Rugby union team is made up of 15 players eight forwards numbered from 1 to 8 and seven backs numbered from 9 to 15 He played for Jed-Forest RFC, Newcastle Falcons, The Borders and represented Scotland and the British Lions. Jed-Forest Rugby Football Club are a Rugby union team who are based at Riverside Park in Jedburgh. The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. See also Border Reivers for the historical background Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' were one of four professional The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international Rugby union. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from

Scotland's most capped scrum half

Gary equalled Roy Laidlaw’s then record as Scotland’s most capped scrum-half when he won his 47th cap against Romania in August 1999. Roy James Laidlaw (born October 5, 1953) is a Scottish Rugby union footballer A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports The Romania national rugby union team, nicknamed The Oaks ( Stejarii) have long been one of the stronger European teams outside of the Six Nations He then joined the 50-cap club when he led Scotland to victory in the World Cup play-off match against Samoa that October. The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international Rugby union. The national Rugby union team of Samoa is called Manu Samoa (the name of a famous Samoan chief some 10 generations ago

He retired from international rugby after Scotland’s 18-30 defeat by New Zealand in the 1999 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand. The All Blacks are New Zealand's national team in Rugby union, the country's National sport. The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup and the first to be held in Rugby union 's professional era.

Five Nations

Gary Armstrong led Scotland to the 1999 Five Nations Championship, playing his eighth Test as captain as Scotland grasped pole position with their stunning 36-22 victory against France. The Six Nations Championship (referred to as RBS 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international The France national rugby union team represents France in Rugby union.

He was skipper throughout the previous two Five Nations Championships and was also captain on Scotland’s 1999 visit to South Africa, when he played in all four matches and scored the opening try of the tour in the victory over Border. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Injuries

Had not injury intervened – and the presence of such peers as Bryan Redpath and Andy Nicol – Gary would surely have won many more caps in an international career that began in 1988. Bryan William Redpath (born July 2, 1971 in Galashiels) is a former Rugby union player and a member of the Scottish line of that Andrew Douglas Nicol (born 12 March 1971 in Dundee) Rugby union player (Sometimes confused with Andy Nicol of the Buffalo New York rock band

Twice, in 1992 and 1994, he suffered serious knee damage and it spoke volumes for his tenacity and courage that he returned to the top flight. He had succeeded a fellow Lion and Scotland cap, Roy Laidlaw, as scrum half at Jed-Forest. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from

British Lions

Gary Armstrong then went on to emulate Laidlaw by playing for both Scotland and the Lions, touring with the latter in Australia in 1989. The British and Irish Lions (until 2001 known as the British Isles Rugby Union Team or "British Lions" Rugby union side comprises a pick of the best players from

Newcastle

He joined Newcastle Falcons in 1995, and his appetite for the fray was seen to best advantage when the club won England’s Allied Dunbar Premiership title in 1998. The Newcastle Falcons is a Rugby union team currently playing in the Guinness Premiership. The English Premiership (known as the Guinness Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Guinness) is a professional league competition for Rugby Many supporters believe Armstrong to be the best player in the club's history.

The Borders

Gary finished his career by returning home to play for the newly created professional team, The Borders. See also Border Reivers for the historical background Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' were one of four professional He retired in 2004 at about the same time as Doddie Weir. George "Doddie" Weir, born July 4, 1970 in Edinburgh, is a Rugby Union player in the lock position An interesting sidenote: In Jonny Wilkinson's book 'How to Play Rugby My Way' Armstrong's nickname is given as the 'scrap-yard dog' as Jonny has never met anyone as 'tough as him!'

Career statistics

International career: 51 caps. A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports 1988 - A. 1989 - W E I F Fj R. 1990 - I F W E NZ1 NZ2 Arg. 1991 - F W E I R (WC) J I WS E NZ. 1993 - I F W E. 1994 - E I. 1996 - NZ1 NZ2 A. 1997 - W SA (rep). 1998 - It I F W E SA (rep). 1999 - W E I F Arg R WC (SA U Sam NZ).

Points: 21 - 5 tries.

(Rewritten from the SRU website - used with permission)

External links

• The Scotsman