Dr. Robert Bruce Young (2 August 1858 – 16 March 1927) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

rugby union player who played for Glasgow University and Glasgow District. He became the 16th President of the Scottish Rugby Union and a referee.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

Young played for Glasgow University.

Provincial career

He was capped by Glasgow District in 1881. It was the first match won by Glasgow in the Inter-City series.

Referee career

He refereed in the Scottish Unofficial Championship. He also refereed Scottish District matches.

Administrative career

He was President of the

Royal HSFP Royal High School Former Pupils was a former Edinburgh rugby union club; but the club was re-formed as Barnton RFC and is now known as Royal High RFC. Royal HSFP was a founder member of the Scottish Rugby Union, the second oldest national gove ...

. He was the Vice-President of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1887. He was made the 16th

President of the Scottish Rugby Union The President of the Scottish Rugby Union is the figurehead of rugby union in Scotland. Origin In 1873, and directly after the Scotland versus England international match, representatives from eight Scottish rugby union sides came together in Gla ...

in 1888-89. The ''Glasgow Herald'' reported his succession:

A gentleman who has long taken an interest in the rugby game, and who, from experience and general ability, is well qualified for the position.

During his tenure as President, the Scottish Rugby Union had a conflict with the English Rugby Union. The Scottish Rugby Union together with the

Welsh Rugby Union The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; cy, Undeb Rygbi Cymru) is the Sports governing body, governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby. The WRU is responsible for the running ...

and the

Irish Rugby Football Union The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) ( ga, Cumann Rugbaí na hÉireann) is the body managing rugby union in the island of Ireland (both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ...

founded the International Rugby Board, now World Rugby to oversee the game. The English Union refused to join. Young was reported in ''The Sporting Life'' thus:

The attitude of the latter country nglandwas, he considered, most unsportsmanlike. She had taken a stand against the other three countries against which she could not bring the charge of being actuated by any desire to get the better of England or destroy football. The other nations had the welfare of football at heart. He believed that the International Board would win, and that England would be defeated in this battle. The Scottish members of their board always had the greatest satisfaction in feeling that they had the unanimous support of the clubs in their union.

The ''Glasgow Herald'' opined that on the dispute Dr Bruce Young had performed admirably, such that his:

wise counsel last year in dealing with the international dispute with England, greatly strengthened the position of Scotland in that matter.

Outside of rugby

Young was a doctor of medicine.

References

1858 births 1927 deaths Scottish rugby union players Scottish rugby union referees Rugby union players from Glasgow Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union Glasgow University RFC players Glasgow District (rugby union) players Scottish Districts referees {{Scotland-rugbyunion-bio-stub