Centre of Excellence

On 15 January 1972, James Menzies Renwick made his international rugby debut for Scotland against France at Murrayfield. He was 19 years old. In the years that followed he became, arguably, the most talented rugby player ever to pull on a Scotland jersey – running in some of Scotland's most celebrated and spectacular tries. During a 24- year playing career he was a member of the Hawick RFC team which won the last ever unofficial Championship and thereafter eight official Scottish Championships. He was capped 52 times for Scotland (a record at that time), scoring a hatful of tries (several of which appear on 'Best of …' videos and are still shown regularly on television), penalties and drop-goals. He played for the British Lions in the first Test against South Africa in 1980 and is widely considered to have been unfortunate not to have played in more Tests at that level. A serial tourist in the amateur age, Renwick has witnessed and been part of many exciting and hilarious escapades. He has a naturally mischievous character and some of the high jinx in which he has been involved are the stuff of rugby legend. He has also met and made friends with a huge number of the great and good of rugby football across the globe in addition to many well-known characters from outside the game. Now as revered for his repartee and after dinner speaking as he was for his incisive breaks on the park, Renwick's actions – both on and off the field – have made him one of the best known and popular figures in the rugby world. This intimate and revealing biography is sure to be one of the most entertaining sports biographies of recent years.