Mike Biggar
{{Short description|Scotland international rugby union player}}
{{distinguish|Mike Bigga}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Mike Biggar
| image =
| birth_name = Michael Andrew Biggar
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|11|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Aberdeen, Scotland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| ru_position = Flanker
| repteam1 = Scotland 'B'
| repcaps1 = 1
| reppoints1 =
| ru_ntupdate =
| repyears1 = 1975
| repteam2 = Scotland
| repcaps2 = 24
| reppoints2 = 0
| repyears2 = 1975-80
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Cambridge University
| amatapps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| amatyears2 =
| amatteam2 = London Scottish
| amatapps2 =
| amatpoints2 =
| provinceyears1=
| province1 = Anglo-Scots
| provinceapps1=
| provincepoints1=
| occupation =
| school =
| university = University of Cambridge
| relatives = Alastair Biggar, cousin
}}
Mike Biggar (born 20 November 1949) is a former Scotland international rugby union player.{{cite web |title=Michael Andrew Biggar |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/8346.html |website=ESPN scrum |accessdate=26 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Mike Biggar - International Rugby Caps for Scotland. - Scotland |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby/scotland/mike-biggar-3724/international-rugby-caps-for-scotland_a02454/ |website=Sporting Heroes |accessdate=26 April 2020}}
Rugby Union career
=Amateur career=
Biggar was educated at Sedbergh School in Cumbria, where he was Head of School,{{Cite web|url=https://osclub.sedberghschool.org/former-scotland-rugby-captain-mike-biggar-s-63-68-walks-to-raise-money-for-nhs/|title=Former Scotland Rugby Captain Mike Biggar (S 63-68) Walks To Raise Money For The NHS|work=OS Club |date=22 April 2020|accessdate=23 December 2020}} then went up to Queens' College, Cambridge, where he read Law and won a Blue in rugby in 1971.{{Cite web|url=https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/life-at-queens/news-and-events/queens-member-takes-on-fundraising-challenge-for-the-nhs|title=Queens' member takes on fundraising challenge for the NHS | Queens' College|website=www.queens.cam.ac.uk|accessdate=23 December 2020}}
He went on to play for London Scottish.
=Provincial career=
He played for the Anglo-Scots district.
=International career=
He was capped by Scotland 'B' to play against France 'B' in 1975.
He appeared for Scotland in 24 international matches between 1975 and 1980, four times as captain.
=Administrative career=
Car accident and health
In 1992, he was involved in an automobile accident in which he sustained severe head injuries and became disabled, requiring a wheelchair and unable to walk without difficulty.{{cite web |title=Ex Scotland rugby captain inspired by Captain Tom |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-52368131 |website=BBC News |accessdate=26 April 2020 |date=21 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Meet the people inspired by Captain Tom Moore |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=236633604245991 |publisher=BBC Breakfast |accessdate=26 April 2020 }}
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while recovering from a debilitating kidney infection, and inspired by Captain Tom Moore, he decided to try to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together by walking 100 steps in a month. As of 10 August 2021, he had raised over £87,000 via JustGiving.{{cite web |title=Mike's 100 Steps for the NHS |url=https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mike-biggar |publisher=JustGiving |accessdate=2 May 2020 }}
Family
He lives in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, with his wife Ali. Fellow London Scottish and Scotland player Alastair Biggar was his cousin.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biggar, Mike}}
Category:Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players
Category:London Scottish F.C. players
Category:Rugby union players from Aberdeen
Category:Scotland 'B' international rugby union players
Category:Scotland international rugby union players
Category:Scottish Exiles (rugby union) players
Category:Scottish rugby union players
Category:Scottish wheelchair users