Gary Callander
{{Short description|Scotland international rugby union player (1959–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Gary Callander
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Gary James Callander
| birth_date = {{birth date|1959|07|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kelso, Scotland
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|12|5|1959|07|05|df=y}}
| death_place = Melrose, Scotland
| height =
| weight =
| ru_position = Hooker
| repteam1 = Scotland 'B'
| repteam2 = Scotland
| repyears1 = 1982
| repyears2 = 1984–1988
| repcaps1 = 1
| repcaps2 = 6
| reppoints1 =
| reppoints2 = 0
| ru_ntupdate =
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Kelso
| amatyears2 = 1980
| amatteam2 = Co-Optimists
| amatyears3 = 1982
| amatteam3 = Scottish Borderers
| ru_provinceyears1 =
| ru_province1 = South of Scotland
| ru_provinceapps1 =
| ru_provincepoints1 =
| ru_provinceyears2 = 1986
| ru_province2 = Combined Scottish Districts
| ru_provinceapps2 =
| ru_provincepoints2 =
| ru_provinceupdate =
| coachteams1 = Haddington
| coachteams2 = Gala
| coachteams3 = Watsonians
| coachteams4 = Kelso
| coachyears1 = 1990
| coachyears2 = -
| coachyears3 = 2001–2004
| coachyears4 = –
| occupation =
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
| school =
| university =
}}
Gary Callander (5 July 1959 – 5 December 2021) was a Scottish international rugby union player who made six international appearances for the Scotland national team between 1984 and 1988. He played in the Hooker position. He coached Haddington, Gala, Watsonians and Kelso.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-05|title=Gary Callander|url=https://www.kelsorfc.co.uk/single-post/gary-callander|access-date=2021-12-05|website=Kelso Rugby Club|language=en}}
Rugby Union career
=Amateur career=
Callander began his rugby career playing for Kelso at the age of 16; and at the age of 18 collected his first coveted Melrose Sevens winner's medals.
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.
He won the Melrose Sevens five times in total.{{Cite web|url=http://www.calmview.eu/Hubcat/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Persons&id=DS/UK/1236&pos=2|title=Heritage Hub. HUBCAT: Record|website=calmview.eu |access-date=29 December 2021}}
His Sevens career also took him twice to the final of the Hong Kong Sevens Cup competition, playing for the Co-Optimists and the Scottish Borderers.
=Provincial career=
Callander played for South of Scotland District.{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=37ZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vaUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4132%2C5668555|title=Border landsline – and it's a record for Dods |first=John |last=Downie |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |page=20 |date=31 December 1984 |access-date=29 December 2021}} He was part of the squad that won the Scottish Inter-District Championship in 1984–85 season.
He played for Combined Scottish Districts on 1 March 1986 against South of Scotland and captained the side.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FLxAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4132%2C336464 | title=A delight to see such Murrayfield riches |first=John |last=Downie |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=3 March 1986 |page=9 |access-date=1 September 2024}}
=International career=
Callander was capped by Scotland 'B' in 1982 to play against France 'B'.
He won six caps playing hooker for the Scotland national team between 1984 and 1988. He was captain of the Scottish team for five matches, including a 24–11 win over France at Murrayfield Stadium in 1988.
In 1985 a knee injury led to him missing the 1985 Scotland rugby union tour of North America.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ye89AAAAIBAJ&sjid=10gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3745%2C6320032 |title=Callander misses tour |first=Bill |last=McMurtrie |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=29 April 1985 |page=15 |access-date=29 December 2021}} In 1986 he captained Scotland for a tour of France and Spain during which Scotland won two out of five matches and drew one.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n7ZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t6UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4407%2C3676824 |title=Campbell's hopes are dashed as Scots go for final tour win |first=Bill |last=McMurtrie |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |page=31 |date=14 May 1986 |accessdate=5 April 2016}}
=Coaching career=
Callander coached at Haddington from 1990.{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12629674.Callander_and_Scott_team_up_as_coaches/ |title=Callander and Scott team up as coaches |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=6 January 1993 |accessdate=5 April 2016}}
In 1993, together with Simon Scott, he began coaching the Scottish students team.
He has successfully coached a wide range of teams across Scotland between 1991 and 2007 including Gala, Watsonians and Kelso. He joined Watsonians in 2001{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/1259913.stm |title=Callander to coach Watsonians |publisher=BBC News |date=4 April 2001}} and left in 2004.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/callander-walks-after-sonians-sack-baird-2477014 |title=Callander walks after 'Sonians sack Baird |work=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |date=17 November 2004 |access-date=29 December 2021}}
He later offered help to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh.
Personal life
Callander died from pancreatic cancer in Melrose, on 5 December 2021, at the age of 62.{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=David |title=Former Scotland captain Gary Callander dies aged 62 |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19763722.former-scotland-captain-gary-callander-dies-aged-62/ |access-date=5 December 2021 |work=The Herald|date=5 December 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://en.espn.co.uk/scotland/rugby/player/9369.html profile] on ESPN
- [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby/scotland/gary-callander-3275/scottish-caps-1984-88_a02585/ profile] on www.sporting-heroes.net
{{British and Irish Lions 1989 France}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Callander, Gary}}
Category:Scottish rugby union players
Category:Scottish rugby union coaches
Category:Rugby union players from Kelso
Category:Scotland international rugby union players
Category:Scotland 'B' international rugby union players
Category:Co-Optimist Rugby Club players
Category:South of Scotland District (rugby union) players
Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Scotland