Roger Davidson (rugby union)
{{Short description|Scotland international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Roger Davidson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Roger Stewart Davidson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1869|02|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kinfauns, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1955|02|18|1869|02|17|df=yes}}
| death_place = Perth, Scotland
| height =
| weight =
| ru_position = Forward
| amatyears1 = 1890
| amatyears2 = 1892-94
| amatyears3 = 1893
| amatteam1 = Perthshire
| amatteam2 = Aberdeen Nomads
| amatteam3 = Royal HSFP
| ru_amclubcaps =
| ru_amclubpoints =
| ru_amupdate =
| provinceyears1 = 1892
| provinceyears2 = 1893
| province1 = North of Scotland District
| province2 = East of Scotland District
| provinceapps1 =
| provincepoints1 =
| repteam1 = Scotland
| repyears1 = 1893
| repcaps1 = 1
| reppoints1 = 0
| ru_ntupdate =
| refereeyears1 = 1896
| refereecomps1 = Scottish Districts
| refereeapps1 =
| ru_refereeupdate =
| other =
| occupation =
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
| school =
| university = University of Aberdeen
| website =
| module2 = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes
| office = President of the Scottish Rugby Union
| term_start = 1902
| term_end = 1903
| predecessor = George Neilson
| successor = Robert Greig
| prior_term =
| order = 29th
}}
}}
Roger Davidson was a Scotland international rugby union player.{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scotland/rugby/player/1087.html|title=Roger Stewart Davidson}} His regular playing position was Forward
Rugby Union career
=Amateur career=
Davidson started by playing for Perthshire.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000295/18901006/030/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson moved to Aberdeen to study at university. In 1892, Davidson was playing for Aberdeen Nomads.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/18921212/035/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson played for Royal HSFP when he was capped for Scotland.The Essential History of Rugby Union: Scotland by Nick Oswald and John Griffiths. Headline Publishing. 2003. He was playing for them in March 1893 but it was remarked that he was just 'helping out' the side.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/18930320/048/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
=Provincial career=
Davidson was selected for Edinburgh District to play against North of Scotland District on 12 December 1891,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000162/18911212/002/0002 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} but the match was called off due to frost.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000060/18911214/053/0010 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson did play in the North of Scotland District match against Midlands District on 26 November 1892.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000453/18921125/067/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} The Scottish Referee noted that Davidson and Trotter were conspicuous in the match for the North side, between them securing a try.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/18921128/004/0001 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
In the other direction, Davidson was selected for North of Scotland District to play against Edinburgh District on 10 December 1892,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000475/18921201/031/0007 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} but the match was called off due to snow.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/18921212/035/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} He was again selected for North of Scotland District to play against South of Scotland District on 14 January 1893{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000295/18930104/049/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} but again this match was also called off.
Davidson played for East of Scotland District in their match against West of Scotland District on 21 January 1893.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001965/18930120/101/0006 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000452/18930121/056/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
=International career=
=Referee career=
Davidson refereed a North of Scotland District versus Edinburgh Wanderers match on 21 March 1896.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000575/18960321/124/0007 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson was a linesman, or touch judge or assistant referee, for the Cities versus Provinces match of January 1899.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001876/18990116/017/0002 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson was also a touch-judge in the international Scotland v Ireland match in 1903,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19030228/026/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} and in the Scotland v England match that same year.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000337/19030321/031/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
=Administrative career=
Davidson was elected a North of Scotland District representative on the board of the Scottish Rugby Union in October 1898.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000295/18981014/102/0004 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson sent his apologies to the North of Scotland District when they organised a dinner to celebrate Mr. John M. Fyfe, their secretary, on 18 February 1899.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000575/18990220/165/0007 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson was elected President of Perthshire in 1901.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000582/19010918/128/0005 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson was made Honorary Vice-President of Perthshire in 1902.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000582/19020917/119/0004 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson was the 29th President of the Scottish Rugby Union. He served the 1902–1903 term in office.{{cite web |url=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/sru-files/files/SR_RR1819_digital.pdf |title=Scottish Rugby Record 2018/19 |date= |website=Scottish Rugby}}
Outside of rugby
Davidson became a Minister of the Church of Scotland.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19270314/060/0004 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} He took over at Kinfauns Parish Church on his father's death - his father, C. S. Davidson, was also a Minister - and left Aberdeen in 1894.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000444/18940713/054/0003 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} All of Davidson's ministry was at Kinfauns with the exception of two years when he was assistant at Aberdeen St. Nicholas. He did join the Territorial Army and was a chaplain there for 25 years.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19550219/091/0002 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
Davidson announced his intention to retire as a minister at the start of February 1955. That month, he died a day after his birthday at Burghmuir Hospital in Perth, after being taken ill a few days before. He was able to talk to visiting friends who arrived for his birthday.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19550219/091/0002 |title=Register |access-date=March 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davidson, Roger}}
Category:Scottish rugby union players
Category:Scotland international rugby union players
Category:Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union
Category:Rugby union players from Perth and Kinross
Category:Scottish rugby union referees
Category:Scottish Districts referees
Category:North of Scotland (standalone) players
Category:East of Scotland District players
Category:Perthshire RFC players