David Sole

For the singer and actor, please see David Soul.

David Michael Barclay Sole (born 8 May 1962) is a former Scottish rugby union footballer. He was educated at Blairmore prep school and Glenalmond College, a private school in Perthshire.

He made his Scotland debut in 1986 against France and went on to win 44 caps at prop between 1986 and 1992, with a record 25 as captain.

He was also the first choice loosehead prop with the victorious British Lions in Australia in 1989.

In 1990, David Sole was captain for a Grand Slam decider at Murrayfield against the auld enemy (Lowland Scots for old enemy) and hot favourites, England. This is sometimes considered to be Scotland's greatest match, and one well remembered, as Richard Bath says:

"David Sole is another of those players who is remembered and virtually defined by one moment: in this case it was when he made the decision for his side to take the now famous walk onto the pitch for the Grand Slam decider against England at Murrayfield in 1990. As a statement of resolve, it was a masterstroke from which the English never recovered as they lost the most high-profile game in Five Nations Rugby history. It also cemented Sole's name in Scottish folklore...

"[David Sole was] one of the game's most softly-spoken and considered men off the field and one of the most inspirational and thoughtful captains and players on it."

Scotland won 13-7, denying England the Grand Slam and claiming their third Grand Slam after their previous triumphs in 1925 and 1984.

He made his final international appearance in 1992 against Australia. That year he stood for election as Rector of the University of Dundee, but despite being the favourite candidate he was defeated by Stephen Fry.

Nowadays David acts as the co-commentator for BBC Scotland's coverage of rugby union matches, most recently in the 2007 Summer Tests before the 2007 Rugby World Cup, a tournament that STV owned the rights to. He commentated on Scotland v Japan at McDiarmid Park on 13 November 2004 when Scotland won 100-8.

• Canny Hadden will have spotted chinks in England's armour, Telegraph, 25 February 2006
• Sole backs Scots to shock England, The Scotsman, 15 February 2006
• Reasons to be cheerful despite defeat in Cardiff, Telegraph, 14 February 2006
• Scanty evidence for Williams' bold boast - Telegraph, 21 March 2005