EDINBURGH, Scotland — Derrick Grant, a notable flanker and coach for Scotland, as well as a member of the 1966 British and Irish Lions team, has passed away at the age of 86.
This news was confirmed by Scottish Rugby on Tuesday, just two days after Grant’s death was reported.
Grant represented Scotland on 14 occasions between 1965 and 1968, and later served as the national coach from 1985 to 1988.
He played a significant role in introducing players like Gavin Hastings, Scott Hastings, Finlay Calder, and David Sole to the national team, taking them along to New Zealand for the first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1987.
During that tournament, Scotland managed a draw against the eventual runners-up, France, in the pool stage, but were eliminated by the All Blacks, who went on to win the championship, in the quarterfinals.
Scottish Rugby described Grant as a “quiet and humble man,” remarking on his forward-thinking approach to game analysis and his ability to maximize the potential of his players.
Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Oliver Grant also donned the Scotland jersey.
His test career began and concluded with matches against France, and he was also part of the historic 1965 squad that defeated South Africa for the first time in nearly six decades, as well as securing a win over England during the Five Nations in 1966.
As a Lion, Grant participated in two matches during the tour of Australia and played eight times in New Zealand; however, he did not appear in any test matches.
Following his playing days, he claimed numerous titles at the club level before taking up the national coaching role.
One of the highlights of his coaching tenure was sharing the 1986 Five Nations championship with France, where Scotland triumphed over France but faced defeat against Wales.
Notably, they also achieved a remarkable victory over England, achieving a score of 33-6, which still stands as their largest win against their longtime rivals.
Grant’s impact on Scottish rugby endured, with his influence felt in the national team setup until 2003.