Gary Callander

Gary Callander (born 5 July 1959) is a retired rugby union player who won six caps playing hooker for the Scotland national team between 1983 and 1989. He was Captain of the Scottish team for five matches, including a 24–11 win over France at Murrayfield Stadium in 1988.

Early life

He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Playing career

In 1985 a knee injury led to him missing the 1985 Scotland rugby union tour of North America. In 1986 he captained Scotland for a tour of France and Spain during which Scotland won two out of five matches and drew one.

He began his rugby career playing for Kelso RFC, Scotland, at the age of 16 and at 18 collected his first, of five, coveted Melrose Sevens Winner’s Medals. His Sevens career also took him twice to the final of the Hong Kong Sevens Cup Competition.

While Captain of Kelso Rugby Club (1984/85 and 1987/88) he led the team to become Border League Winners in 1984/85 and to then win the Division 1 Championships in 1987/88.

Coaching

He has successfully coached a wide range of teams across Scotland between 1991–2007 including Gala RFC, Watsonians RFC and Kelso RFC

He coached at Haddington RFC from 1990, In 1993, together with Simon Scott, he began coaching the Scottish students team. He joined Watsonians in 2001 and left in 2004.

He later offered help to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh.