He gained a foundation scholarship to Fettes, after being in Kirkcaldy High School for one year.[2] He became head of the school at Fettes, and played rugby for the school XV.[3]
He played for Kirkcaldy, although he was more usually found in their 2nd XV.
The Fife Free Press & Kirkcaldy Guardian of Saturday 10 December 1949 explained:[4]
Then, since the last war. there was the classic instance of J. M. Hunter, son of the former minister of Abbotshall Church, who was capped in season 1946-47. His clubs that season, were jocularly referred to locally as being Kirkcaldy 2nd XV and Cambridge and Scotland. However, the truth of the matter was that while a member of the Kirkcaldy club he was unable to turn out regularly owing to his studies. Nevertheless, when he was available he sportingly insisted that no regular player from the 1st XV should be relegated his behalf, hence his irregular appearances with the 2nd XV. As rugby enthusiasts will agree, a most sporting gesture.
Dunfermline looked for his services but Hunter instead moved south to study at Cambridge University.[5]
He played for Whites Trial in the 20 December 1946 match. He so impressed that at half time he was to replace Frank Coutts in the Blues Trial side at half-time.[8]
He was left out of the final January trial match.[7]
The Scotsman newspaper of Thursday 09 January 1947 noting:
J . M . Hunter, the Fettesian who has just gone down from Cambridge and now plays for London Scottish, has been left out — an omission for which there may be a reason other than his form but which at least represents a surprise after his receiving a cap against the French.
International careeredit
Hunter was capped by Scotland just the once. The cap came in 1947 against France.[9]
The Fifeshire Advertiser of 4 January 1947 noted:[5]
KIRKCALDY'S RUGBY RECORD. J. M. HUNTER IS FOURTH 'CAP.' Kirkcaldy can be proud of its part international rugby. J. M. Hunter, who played for Scotland against France on Wednesday is the fourth Kirkcaldy Rugby Club player represent his country. First was D. D. Howie, who played against England, Ireland, Wales, and South Africa in 1912, and against Wales and France in 1913. G. Thom was capped in 1920 against England, Ireland, Wales and France. R. A. Howie represented Scotland in 1924 against England Ireland, Wales, and France, and in 1925 against England, Ireland, and Wales. J. M. Hunter, who is the son of the Rev. J. M. Hunter, B.D., Abbotshall Church, played several games for Kirkcaldy last season, after he was demobbed. He is at present at Cambridge University.
Military careeredit
He joined the army in 1941 in the Second World War and was rapidly promoted. He became a Lieutenant and then Acting Captain in the Rifle Brigade; and was awarded the Military Cross in 1943 for his service in North Africa.
The Fife Free Press & Kirkcaldy Guardian of Saturday 04 January 1947 noted:[10]
RUGBY STAR'S SUCCESS. J. M Hunter, formerly of Kirkcaldy Rugby Club, who gained his college blue this season for Cambridge, was representative in the Scottish team which was defeated by France on Wednesday. For the first time the Scottish Rugby Union has recognised this game a full international and all the players who took part will be awarded caps. Last season Hunter played regularly for Kirkcaldy Ist XV, and was undoubtedly one of the leading forwards in the county. This season Dunfermline were keen procure his services, but Hunter went down South to resume his studies and since then has been a regular player in the Cambridge Varsity team. While several occasions Kirkcaldy have had representatives the Midlands trials they have not had an internationalist since Bob Howie was chosen represent Scotland and Britain twenty years ago. The new internationalist is a son of Rev. J M Hunter B.D. of Abbotshall Church, Kirkcaldy. He served with the Rifle Brigade for five years, and was awarded the Military Cross for his services in the North African campaign. He was wounded three times and was some months in hospital. He returned to Cambridge the beginning of 1946 where he has been engaged in research work. He already holds his classics degree.
Familyedit
His father was the Rev. John Mercer Hunter (1880-1968) and his mother Frances Margaret Martin (1888-1953).[10]
He married Margaret Mary Phyllis Cursiter (1927-1997) in Edinburgh in 1948 at Murrayfield Parish Church. She was the daughter of Stanley Cursiter, director of the National Galleries of Scotland.[11]
^ https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001062/19330715/140/0006 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002691/19431201/018/0002 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001062/19491210/216/0009 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ ab https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001577/19470104/083/0005 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Scotland. The Essential History of Rugby Union. Nick Oswald and John Griffiths. Headline Publishing. 2003.
^ ab https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19470109/109/0006 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19461223/106/0005 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ ab https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001062/19470104/050/0002 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001577/19480619/088/0002 – via British Newspaper Archive. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
May 07, 2024
john, hunter, rugby, union, john, hunter, november, 1920, march, 2006, scotland, international, rugby, union, player, john, hunterbirth, namejohn, murray, hunterdate, birth, 1920, november, 1920place, birthkirkcaldy, scotlanddate, death31, march, 2006, 2006, a. John Hunter 10 November 1920 31 March 2006 was a Scotland international rugby union player 1 John HunterBirth nameJohn Murray HunterDate of birth 1920 11 10 10 November 1920Place of birthKirkcaldy ScotlandDate of death31 March 2006 2006 03 31 aged 85 Place of deathEdinburgh ScotlandSchoolKirkcaldy High SchoolFettes CollegeUniversityClare College CambridgeRugby union careerPosition s LockAmateur team s YearsTeamApps Points KirkcaldyCambridge UniversityLondon Scottish Provincial State sidesYearsTeamApps Points 19461946Whites TrialBlues Trial International careerYearsTeamApps Points 1947Scotland1 0 Contents 1 Rugby Union career 1 1 Amateur career 1 2 Provincial career 1 3 International career 2 Military career 3 Family 4 ReferencesRugby Union career editAmateur career edit He gained a foundation scholarship to Fettes after being in Kirkcaldy High School for one year 2 He became head of the school at Fettes and played rugby for the school XV 3 He played for Kirkcaldy although he was more usually found in their 2nd XV The Fife Free Press amp Kirkcaldy Guardian of Saturday 10 December 1949 explained 4 Then since the last war there was the classic instance of J M Hunter son of the former minister of Abbotshall Church who was capped in season 1946 47 His clubs that season were jocularly referred to locally as being Kirkcaldy 2nd XV and Cambridge and Scotland However the truth of the matter was that while a member of the Kirkcaldy club he was unable to turn out regularly owing to his studies Nevertheless when he was available he sportingly insisted that no regular player from the 1st XV should be relegated his behalf hence his irregular appearances with the 2nd XV As rugby enthusiasts will agree a most sporting gesture Dunfermline looked for his services but Hunter instead moved south to study at Cambridge University 5 Hunter then played for Cambridge University 6 After university he then played for London Scottish 7 Provincial career edit He played for Whites Trial in the 20 December 1946 match He so impressed that at half time he was to replace Frank Coutts in the Blues Trial side at half time 8 He was left out of the final January trial match 7 The Scotsman newspaper of Thursday 09 January 1947 noting J M Hunter the Fettesian who has just gone down from Cambridge and now plays for London Scottish has been left out an omission for which there may be a reason other than his form but which at least represents a surprise after his receiving a cap against the French International career edit Hunter was capped by Scotland just the once The cap came in 1947 against France 9 The Fifeshire Advertiser of 4 January 1947 noted 5 KIRKCALDY S RUGBY RECORD J M HUNTER IS FOURTH CAP Kirkcaldy can be proud of its part international rugby J M Hunter who played for Scotland against France on Wednesday is the fourth Kirkcaldy Rugby Club player represent his country First was D D Howie who played against England Ireland Wales and South Africa in 1912 and against Wales and France in 1913 G Thom was capped in 1920 against England Ireland Wales and France R A Howie represented Scotland in 1924 against England Ireland Wales and France and in 1925 against England Ireland and Wales J M Hunter who is the son of the Rev J M Hunter B D Abbotshall Church played several games for Kirkcaldy last season after he was demobbed He is at present at Cambridge University Military career editHe joined the army in 1941 in the Second World War and was rapidly promoted He became a Lieutenant and then Acting Captain in the Rifle Brigade and was awarded the Military Cross in 1943 for his service in North Africa The Fife Free Press amp Kirkcaldy Guardian of Saturday 04 January 1947 noted 10 RUGBY STAR S SUCCESS J M Hunter formerly of Kirkcaldy Rugby Club who gained his college blue this season for Cambridge was representative in the Scottish team which was defeated by France on Wednesday For the first time the Scottish Rugby Union has recognised this game a full international and all the players who took part will be awarded caps Last season Hunter played regularly for Kirkcaldy Ist XV and was undoubtedly one of the leading forwards in the county This season Dunfermline were keen procure his services but Hunter went down South to resume his studies and since then has been a regular player in the Cambridge Varsity team While several occasions Kirkcaldy have had representatives the Midlands trials they have not had an internationalist since Bob Howie was chosen represent Scotland and Britain twenty years ago The new internationalist is a son of Rev J M Hunter B D of Abbotshall Church Kirkcaldy He served with the Rifle Brigade for five years and was awarded the Military Cross for his services in the North African campaign He was wounded three times and was some months in hospital He returned to Cambridge the beginning of 1946 where he has been engaged in research work He already holds his classics degree Family editHis father was the Rev John Mercer Hunter 1880 1968 and his mother Frances Margaret Martin 1888 1953 10 He married Margaret Mary Phyllis Cursiter 1927 1997 in Edinburgh in 1948 at Murrayfield Parish Church She was the daughter of Stanley Cursiter director of the National Galleries of Scotland 11 References edit John Murray Hunter ESPN scrum https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0001062 19330715 140 0006 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0002691 19431201 018 0002 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0001062 19491210 216 0009 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help a b https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0001577 19470104 083 0005 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Scotland The Essential History of Rugby Union Nick Oswald and John Griffiths Headline Publishing 2003 a b https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0000540 19470109 109 0006 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0000564 19461223 106 0005 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help France v Scotland ESPN scrum a b https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0001062 19470104 050 0002 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help https www britishnewspaperarchive co uk viewer bl 0001577 19480619 088 0002 via British Newspaper Archive a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Hunter rugby union amp oldid 1165191477, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
