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Jim Telfer

{{short description|British Lions & Scotland international rugby union player}}

{{distinguish|James Telfer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Jim Telfer

| image =

| birth_name = James Telfer

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1940|3|17}}

| birth_place = Melrose, Scotland

| height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=off}}

| weight = {{convert|94|kg|stlb lb}} {{Cite web|url=https://www.lionsrugby.com/player/?PlayGuid=JT961751#profile|title = History > Player Archive > #443 Jim Telfer |website=www.lionsrugby.com |access-date=30 April 2022}}

| ru_position = Number eight

| ru_currentclub =

| repteam1 = Scotland

| repteam2 = British Lions

| repcaps1 = 22

| repcaps2 = 6

| reppoints1 = (?)

| ru_ntupdate = 1 March 2009

| repyears1 = 1964-70

| repyears2 = 1966-68

| provinceyears1 = 1959-71

| provinceyears2 = 1962

| province1 = South of Scotland District

| province2 = Provinces District

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| amatyears1 = 19??-1974

| ru_amupdate = 24 July 2007

| amatteam1 = Melrose RFC

| coachyears1 = 1980–1984

| coachyears2 = 1988–1993

| coachyears3 = 1993–1995

| coachyears4 = 1995-1998

| coachyears5 = 1998-1999

| coachyears6 = 1999–2003

| coachyears7 = 1983,1997

| coachteams1 = Scotland

| coachteams2 = Scotland (Assistant coach)

| coachteams3 = Scotland

| coachteams4 = Scotland (Director of Rugby)

| coachteams5 = Scotland

| coachteams6 = Scotland (Assistant coach)

| coachteams7 = British Lions

| ru_coach =

| occupation = Retired rugby union coach

| university = Moray House School of Education

}}

James Telfer (born 17 March 1940) is a Scottish former rugby union coach and player. As a player, he won 21 international caps in the amateur era, also having a career as a headmaster at Hawick High School and Galashiels Academy and Forrester High School as a chemistry teacher. With Sir Ian McGeechan he had success with both the Scotland national team and the British Lions.

Playing career

Telfer played for Melrose RFC and was still a student when he was first selected for international duties.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.world.rugby/video/677463/jersey-tales-jim-telfer |title=Jim Telfer |publisher=World Rugby |date=29 October 2021 |access-date=30 April 2022}} He later worked as a chemistry teacher.{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-positions/no-8s/jim-telfer-67120 |title=Rugby Positions: No 8s: Jim Telfer |publisher=Rugby World |date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821163049/http://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-positions/no-8s/jim-telfer-67120 |archive-date=21 August 2016}} His first cap came against France at Murrayfield on 4 January 1964.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=moNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3254%2C626981 |title=Scots open season with victory |first=John |last=Downie |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=6 January 1964 |page=15 |access-date=13 March 2017}} His last match for Scotland was on 28 February 1970 at Lansdowne Road against Ireland.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0ZRAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C6UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2171%2C49218 |title=Scottish revival not enough to atone for earlier blunders |first=Bill |last=McMurtrie |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=2 March 1970 |page=5|access-date=13 March 2017}}

Telfer gained twenty one caps for Scotland, and, but for injury, might have gained more. Allan Massie wrote of him:

:"Telfer is a man of innate authority. (There's a wealth of quiet reserve and self-knowledge, touched by that form of self-mockery which appears as under-statement, in the way he will describe himself as being a 'dominant personality')"Massie, p189

Telfer played back row for Scotland and for the British Lions in 1966 and 1968. He was impressed and heavily influenced by New Zealand rugby. After a cartilage operation he slowed up. He played 23 games for the British Lions on their 1966 tour to Australia and New Zealand{{cite web |url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/history1/players.php?player=15915&includeref=dynamic#.WMcmgRica8U |title=Player archive: Jim Teller |publisher=British and Irish Lions |access-date=13 March 2017}} and 11 games on their 1968 tour to South Africa.{{cite web |url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/history1/players.php?player=15915&includeref=dynamic#.WMcmgRica8U |title=Player archive: Jim Teller |publisher=British and Irish Lions |access-date=13 March 2017}}

Between 1963 and 1967, he played 8 times for the Barbarians, scoring six points.{{cite web |url=http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/archive/profile/3864/j-w-telfer/ |title=Player Archive - J. W. Telfer |publisher=Barbarians FC |access-date=13 March 2017}}

George Crerar said of him "The great thing about Jim Telfer is that he makes sure that if he isn't going to win the ball the other side won't get it either.''"Massie, p190

Coaching career

Telfer was head coach to the British Lions on their tour of New Zealand in 1983. He was assistant coach, with particular responsibility for the forwards, on the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa, where he made his well-known motivational 'Everest' speech to the forwards before the 1st Test.{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/40272226|title = Living With Lions documentary: Telfer's famous 'Everest' speech in 1997|work = BBC Sport|date=20 June 2017|access-date=8 January 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lionsrugby.com/2016/06/21/on-this-day-telfers-speech-and-dawsons-dummy-down-the-springboks/|title = On This Day: Telfer's speech and Dawson's dummy down the Springboks|date = 20 June 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/living-with-lions-duncan-humphreys-3450295-Jun2017/|title = 'BOD shook my hand and said, 'Thank you very much, you've given me a career!'}}

Telfer coached Scotland to the Grand Slam in 1984 and, as assistant to Ian McGeechan, to his second Grand Slam in 1990. In his third term as head coach from 1998 to 1999, Scotland won the final Five Nations Championship.

In 2014 he was coaching the Melrose RFC Under-18 team – [https://web.archive.org/web/20130903141447/http://www.melroserugby.bordernet.co.uk/index.php?page=fixtures-wasps Melrose Wasps].{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/29946236|title= 'My best rugby is still to come' |first=Jamie |last=Lyall|work = BBC Sport |date=7 November 2014 |access-date=30 April 2022}}

Telfer has been open about copying some New Zealand approaches to the game.

= Coaching statistics =

= Scotland (1981–1984) =

== International matches as head coach ==

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%"

!colspan=7|Matches (1981–1984)

Matches

!Date

!Opposition

!Venue

!Score
(Sco.–Opponent)

!Competition

!Captain

colspan=7|1981
align=center|117 January{{nrut|France}}Parc des Princes, Parisalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|9–16rowspan=4|1981 Five Nationsrowspan=8|Andy Irvine
align=center|27 February{{nrut|Wales}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|15–6
align=center|321 February{{nrut|England}}Twickenham, Londonalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|17–23
align=center|421 March{{nrut|Ireland}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|10–9
align=center|513 Junerowspan=2|{{nrut|New Zealand}}Carisbrook, Dunedinalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|4–11rowspan=2|1981 tour
align=center|620 JuneEden Park, Aucklandalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|15–40
align=center|726 September{{nrut|Romania}}rowspan=2|Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|12–6Romania tour
align=center|819 December{{nrut|Australia}}align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|24–15Australia tour
colspan=7|1982
align=center|916 January{{nrut|England}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFFFCC|9–9rowspan=4|1982 Five Nationsrowspan=6|Andy Irvine
align=center|1020 February{{nrut|Ireland}}Lansdowne Road, Dublinalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–21
align=center|116 March{{nrut|France}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|16–7
align=center|1220 March{{nrut|Wales}}Arms Park, Cardiffalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|34–18
align=center|134 Julyrowspan=2|{{nrut|Australia}}Ballymore Stadium, Brisbanealign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|12–7rowspan=2|1982 tour
align=center|1410 JulySydney Cricket Ground, Sydneyalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|9–33
colspan=7|1983
align=center|1515 January{{nrut|Ireland}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|13–15rowspan=4|1983 Five Nationsrowspan=3|Roy Laidlaw
align=center|165 February{{nrut|France}}Parc des Princes, Parisalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|15–19
align=center|1719 February{{nrut|Wales}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|15–19
align=center|185 March{{nrut|England}}Twickenham, Londonalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|22–12rowspan=2|Jim Aitken
align=center|1912 November{{nrut|New Zealand}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFFFCC|25–25New Zealand tour
colspan=7|1984
align=center|2021 January{{nrut|Wales}}Arms Park, Cardiffalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|15–9rowspan=4|1984 Five Nationsrowspan=5|Jim Aitken
align=center|214 February{{nrut|England}}Murrayfield Stadiumalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|18–6
align=center|223 March{{nrut|Ireland}}Lansdowne Road, Dublinalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|32–9
align=center|2317 March{{nrut|France}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|21–12
align=center|2420 May{{nrut|Romania}}Stadionul Dinamo, Bucharestalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|22–28Test match
align=center|258 December{{nrut|Australia}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–37Australia tourRoy Laidlaw

== Record by country ==

class="wikitable sortable"
Opponent

! Played

! Won

! Drew

! Lost

! Win ratio (%)

! For

! Against

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|AUS}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|2|0|2}}

| 57

| 92

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|ENG}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|2|1|1}}

| 66

| 50

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|FRA}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|2|0|2}}

| 61

| 54

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|IRE}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|2|0|2}}

| 67

| 54

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|NZL}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|3|0|1|2}}

| 44

| 76

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|ROM}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|2|1|0|1}}

| 34

| 34

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|WAL}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|3|0|1}}

| 79

| 52

TOTAL

{{WDLtot|decimals=0|25|12|2|11}}

! 408

! 412

= Scotland (1993–1995, 1998–1999) =

The period 1995–98 saw Telfer promoted as director of rugby for the Scottish Rugby Union. Richie Dixon was the head coach of the Scotland National team during this time. Telfer stepped in as head coach of Scotland when Dixon quit in 1998.

== International matches as head coach ==

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%"

!colspan=7|Matches (1993–1995, 1998–99)

Matches

!Date

!Opposition

!Venue

!Score
(Sco.–Opponent)

!Competition

!Captain

colspan=7|1993
align=center|120 November{{nrut|New Zealand}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|15–51New Zealand tourGavin Hastings
colspan=7|1994
align=center|215 January{{nrut|Wales}}Arms Park, Cardiffalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|6–29rowspan=4|Five Nationsrowspan=4|Gavin Hastings
align=center|35 February{{nrut|England}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|14–15
align=center|45 March{{nrut|Ireland}}Lansdowne Road, Dublinalign=center bgcolor=FFFFCC|6–6
align=center|519 March{{nrut|France}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–20
align=center|64 Junerowspan=2|{{nrut|Argentina}}rowspan=2|Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverri, Buenos Airesalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|15–16rowspan=2|Argentina tourrowspan=2|Andy Reed
align=center|711 Junealign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|17–19
align=center|819 November{{nrut|South Africa}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|10–34South Africa tourGavin Hastings
colspan=7|1995
align=center|921 January{{nrut|Canada}}rowspan=2|Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|22–6Test matchrowspan=10|Gavin Hastings
align=center|104 February{{nrut|Ireland}}align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|26–13rowspan=4|Five Nations
align=center|1118 February{{nrut|France}}Parc des Princes, Parisalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|23–21
align=center|124 March{{nrut|Wales}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|26–13
align=center|1318 March{{nrut|England}}Twickenham Stadium, Londonalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|12–24
align=center|1422 April{{nrut|Romania}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|49–16RWC Warm-up
align=center|1526 May{{nrut|Ivory Coast}}Olympia Park, Rustenburg, South Africaalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|89–0rowspan=4|World Cup
align=center|1630 May{{nrut|Tonga}}rowspan=3|Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africaalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|41–5
align=center|173 June{{nrut|France}}align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|19–22
align=center|1811 June{{nrut|New Zealand}}align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|30–48
colspan=7|1998
align=center|197 February{{nrut|Ireland}}Lansdowne Road, Dublinalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|17–16rowspan=4|Five Nationsrowspan=4|Gary Armstrong
align=center|2021 February{{nrut|France}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|16–51
align=center|217 March{{nrut|Wales}}Wembley Stadium, Londonalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|13–19
align=center|2222 March{{nrut|England}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|20–34
align=center|2326 May{{nrut|Fiji}}National Stadium, Suvaalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|26–51rowspan=3|Oceania tourrowspan=3|Rob Wainwright
align=center|2413 Junerowspan=2|{{nrut|Australia}}Sydney Football Stadium, Sydneyalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|3–45
align=center|2520 JuneLang Park, Brisbanealign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|11–33
align=center|2621 November{{nrut|South Africa}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|10–35South Africa tourBryan Redpath
colspan=7|1999
align=center|276 February{{nrut|Wales}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|33–20rowspan=2|Five Nationsrowspan=2|Gary Armstrong
align=center|2820 February{{nrut|England}}Twickenham Stadium, Londonalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|21–24
align=center|296 March{{nrut|Italy}}rowspan=2|Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|30–12Test matchEric Peters
align=center|3020 March{{nrut|Ireland}}align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|30–13rowspan=2|Five Nationsrowspan=6|Gary Armstrong
align=center|3110 April{{nrut|France}}Stade de France, Saint-Denisalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|36–22
align=center|3221 August{{nrut|Argentina}}Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|22–31rowspan=2|RWC Warm-up
align=center|3328 August{{nrut|Romania}}Hampden Park, Glasgowalign=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|60–19
align=center|343 October{{nrut|South Africa}}rowspan=5|Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburghalign=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|29–46rowspan=5|World Cup
align=center|358 October{{nrut|Uruguay}}align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|43–12
align=center|3616 October{{nrut|Spain}}align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|48–0Bryan Redpath
align=center|3720 October{{nrut|Samoa}}align=center bgcolor=CCFFCC|35–20rowspan=2|Gary Armstrong
align=center|3824 October{{nrut|New Zealand}}align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC|18–30

== Record by country ==

class="wikitable sortable"
Opponent

! Played

! Won

! Drew

! Lost

! Win ratio (%)

! For

! Against

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|ARG}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|3|0|0|3}}

| 54

| 64

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|AUS}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|2|0|0|2}}

| 14

| 78

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|CAN}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}

| 22

| 6

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|ENG}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|0|0|4}}

| 67

| 97

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|FIJ}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|0|0|1}}

| 26

| 51

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|FRA}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|5|2|0|3}}

| 106

| 136

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|IRE}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|3|1|0}}

| 89

| 48

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|ITA}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}

| 30

| 12

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|CIV}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}

| 89

| 0

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|NZL}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|3|0|0|3}}

| 63

| 129

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|ROM}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|2|2|0|0}}

| 109

| 35

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|SAM}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}

| 35

| 20

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|RSA}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|3|0|0|3}}

| 49

| 115

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|ESP}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}

| 48

| 0

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|TGA}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}

| 41

| 5

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|URU}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|1|1|0|0}}

| 43

| 12

align=center

| align=left|{{ru|WAL}}

{{WDL|decimals=0|4|2|0|2}}

| 78

| 81

TOTAL

{{WDLtot|decimals=0|38|16|1|21}}

! 963

! 889

Honours

In 2021, World Rugby inducted Telfer into its World Rugby Hall of Fame, alongside Osea Kolinisau, Humphrey Kayange, Huriana Manuel, Cheryl McAfee and Will Carling.{{Cite web|last=|title=Six legends to be inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame|url=https://www.world.rugby/news/668456?lang=en|access-date=2021-10-27|website=World Rugby}}

= As a player =

= As a coach =

{{col-float}}

{{col-float-break}}

{{col-float-end}}

References

{{reflist}}

Sources

  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}})
  • Massie, Allan A Portrait of Scottish Rugby (Polygon, Edinburgh; {{ISBN|0-904919-84-6}})
  • Telfer, Jim Jim Telfer: Looking Back... For Once (Mainstream Publishing, 2005, {{ISBN|1-84596-062-9}})

External links

  • [http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=325&id=474202002 Jim Telfer] (The Scotsman)
  • {{YouTube|id=Ve184BqyYU0#t=3m48s|title=Video Interview with Jim Telfer 3:48 -to- 4:48}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef| before = Nairn McEwan }}

{{s-ttl| title = Scotland national rugby union team coach

| years = 1980–1984}}

{{s-aft| after = Colin Telfer }}

{{s-bef| before = Noel Murphy}}

{{s-ttl| title = British Lions coach

| years = 1983}}

{{s-aft| after = Ian McGeechan }}

{{s-bef| before = Ian McGeechan }}

{{s-ttl| title = Scotland national rugby union team coach

| years = 1993–1995}}

{{s-aft| after = Richie Dixon }}

{{s-bef| before = Richie Dixon }}

{{s-ttl| title = Scotland national rugby union team coach

| years = 1998–1999}}

{{s-aft| after = Ian McGeechan }}

{{s-bef| before = Ian McGeechan }}

{{s-ttl| title = British Lions coach

| years = 1997}}

{{s-aft| after = {{flagicon|NZL}} Graham Henry}}

{{s-end}}

{{British and Irish Lions 1966}}

{{British and Irish Lions 1968}}

{{British and Irish Lions 1983}}

{{Scotland Squad 1995 Rugby World Cup}}

{{British and Irish Lions 1997}}

{{Scotland Squad 1999 World Cup}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Telfer, Jim}}

Category:1940 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh

Category:British & Irish Lions coaches

Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland

Category:Melrose RFC players

Category:Provinces District (rugby union) players

Category:Rugby union players from Melrose, Scottish Borders

Category:Scotland international rugby union players

Category:Scotland national rugby union team coaches

Category:Scottish rugby union coaches

Category:Scottish rugby union players

Category:Scottish schoolteachers

Category:South of Scotland District (rugby union) players

Category:Rugby union number eights

Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees