Tony Stanger

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

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Tony Stanger

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Anthony George Stanger

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|05|14|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Hawick, Scotland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height =

| weight =

| school =

| university = University of Edinburgh (1999)

| relatives =

| occupation = Director at Stanger Pro Limited (2015–present)

| ru_position = Wing and Centre

| repyears1 = 1989–1999

| repyears2 = 1997

| repteam1 = Scotland

| repteam2 = British and Irish Lions

| years1 = 1985–2001

| clubs1 = Hawick

| clubs2 = Borders

| clubs3 = Edinburgh

| clubs4 = Grenoble

| clubs5 = Leeds Tykes{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/the-saturday-interview-tony-stanger-1-1134912 |title=The Saturday Interview - Tony Stanger |work=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Press |date=26 September 2008 |accessdate=20 March 2015}}

| points1 =

| apps1 =

| coachteams1 = Leeds Tykes

| coachteams2 = London Irish (Speed and skills)

| coachyears1 = 2001–2004

| coachyears2 = 2004–2008

| repcaps1 = 52

| repcaps2 = 1

| reppoints1 = 106

| ru_ntupdate =

| ru_clubupdate =

| spouse = Bid

| children = Rosie, George and Jack

}}

Anthony George Stanger (born 14 May 1968) is a Scottish former international rugby union player. With 24 international tries, he was Scotland's joint record try scorer, along with Ian Smith, until that record was broken by Stuart Hogg in November 2021. His regular playing positions were Wing and Centre.

Early life

Stanger was born in Hawick in the Scottish Borders. He attended university at the University of Edinburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sport Sciences – 1st Class Honours (1999).[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/2300694/Talent-job-lures-Tony-Stanger-back-to-Scotland.html "Talent job lures Tony Stanger back to Scotland"], The Telegraph, 17 May 2008.

Rugby career

Stanger played rugby for Scotland at under 18, 19 and 21 levels. He went on the Scotland rugby team's tour of Japan.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tTNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SFkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3542%2C4054871 |title=Quiet man's play speaks |first=Bill |last=McMurtrie |date=12 October 1989 |page=25|accessdate=5 May 2019}} He was selected to start for Scotland against Fiji in October 1989, without playing for the Scotland B side.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tTNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SFkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2815%2C4052433 |title=Stanger the only new cap as Sole leads old guard against Fiji |first=Bill |last=McMurtrie |date=12 October 1989 |page=25 |accessdate=5 May 2019}} He scored the winning try in the 1990 Five Nations match against England to seal Scotland's third Grand Slam.[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13200104.The_memory_lives_on_for_everyone_but_the_hero/ "The memory lives on for everyone but the hero"], Herald, 3 February 2015. He played for Scotland at the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cups.

In 1997, Stanger was called up to replace Ieuan Evans, who was injured on tour with the British Lions in South Africa 1997, and Stanger gained one cap on the tour.

Later and personal life

Since retiring from playing, Stanger has moved on to other pursuits, mainly in the areas of coaching and guidance for professional sportspeople. He received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education from University of Edinburgh in June 2007.

Stanger worked as a Talent Manager with the Scottish Institute of Sport from 2008 to 2015, then served as Director at performance agency Stanger Pro alongside his New Zealand-born wife Bid.[https://stangerpro.com/about/ About], Stanger Pro Their son George is a footballer who began his career at Stirling Albion before moving to Hamilton Academical in 2018,{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/scotland/interview-scotland-rugby-hero-tony-stanger-on-why-he-loves-football-1-4831226 |title=Interview: Scotland rugby hero Tony Stanger on why he loves football |author=Aiden Smith |work=The Scotsman |date=17 November 2018 |accessdate=2 February 2019}} also being selected for New Zealand Under-20s.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scotland-could-miss-out-on-hamilton-starlet-starring-at-fifa-u20-world-cup-and-son-of-scottish-rugby-royalty-1-4936134/amp |title=Scotland could miss out on Hamilton starlet starring at Fifa U20 World Cup - and son of Scottish rugby royalty |author=Joel Sked |work=The Scotsman |date=28 May 2019 |accessdate=2 August 2019}}