Robert Henderson (rugby union, born 1900)
{{short description|British Lions & Scotland international rugby union player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Robert Henderson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Robert Gordon Henderson
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1900|01|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Coldstream, Scotland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|02|24|1900|01|08|df=y}}
| death_place = Surrey, England
| height =
| weight =
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Newcastle Northern
| provinceyears1 =
| province1 = Scotland Probables
| provinceapps1 =
| provincepoints1 =
| position = Prop
| repteam1 = Scotland
| repteam2 = British and Irish Lions
| repyears1 = 1924
| repyears2 = 1924
| repcaps1 = 2
| repcaps2 = 2
| reppoints1 = 0
| reppoints2 = 0
| ru_ntupdate =
| coachteams1 =
| coachyears1 =
| ru_coachupdate =
}}
Robert Henderson (8 January 1900 – 24 February 1977) was a Scotland international rugby union player.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scotland/rugby/player/3087.html|title=Robert Gordon Henderson|website=ESPN scrum}}
Rugby Union career
=Amateur career=
Henderson played for Newcastle Northern.
He retired from rugby union in September 1925.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001168/19250912/007/0001 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |newspaper=Shields Daily News |date=12 September 1925 |page=1 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} It was a re-occurrence of his knee injury that forced this decision.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000452/19390728/361/0016 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=28 July 1939 |page=16 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}
=Provincial career=
He played for Scotland Probables against Scotland Possibles in the trial match of 22 December 1923. The Possibles won the match 10 - 6.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000469/19231227/049/0007 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |newspaper=Southern Reporter |date=27 December 1923 |page=7 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} He turned out again for the Probables in the later trial match of 19 January 1924.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19240121/045/0010 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |newspaper= |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}
=International career=
Henderson played for Scotland twice in 1924.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/3087.html|title=Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Robert Henderson - Test matches|website=ESPN scrum}}
That same year he played for the British and Irish Lions on their tour to South Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lionsrugby.com/player/|title=Player}} It was on his tour that he injured his knee and that curtailed his playing career.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000470/19470603/024/0001 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} He received electrical treatment to his knee in Johannesburg.
Police career
He joined the Nigerian Police in 1929. In 1933 he was the Assistant Commissioner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000470/19330221/242/0008 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Outside of rugby union
He was a keen golfer and played at the Gosforth Golf Club. He won the Silver Challenge Cleek, a trophy won for the best gross score, in 1923.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000470/19501031/050/0002 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} He broke the course record in 1929 with a score of 33 out and 33 in for a total of 66. He made the Northumberland county team and was particularly noted for his long drives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000470/19511009/177/0007 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Both he and his wife were members of the Gullane Golf Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000470/19480914/087/0005 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} In 1926, he broke the then Gullane record for course No. 1 with a score of 70; then followed that up with a round of 69 for course No. 2.
He played in the Scottish Amateur Golf Championship at Troon in 1939.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000470/19390801/210/0008 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} He was beaten in the third round (the last 32 stage) by D. R. Young of Sandyhills by 1 hole.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19390728/231/0018 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} It was noted that he was the last player from the east coast left in the tournament.
While in Nigeria, he was one of the organisers of the Nigerian Amateur Athletic Association. In 1947 the association held the first Inter-Colonial sports meeting in west Africa.
Family
His father was Dr. George Henderson of East Brae in Coldstream, his mother Isabella. They had a daughter Isobel.
In 1933, Robert married Lottie May Falk. She was the daughter of Edward M. Falk, the senior resident of Nigeria Government Service.
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1924}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henderson, Robert}}
Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland
Category:Northern Football Club players
Category:Rugby union players from Coldstream
Category:Scotland international rugby union players
Category:Scotland Probables players