Bruce Thomson (rugby union)

Bruce Thomson (born 19 November 1930) is a former Scotland international rugby union player. Thomson played as a Prop.[1] He is a noted bagpiper.[2]

Bruce Thomson

Birth name	Bruce Ewan Thomson
Date of birth	19 November 1930
Place of birth	Assam, India
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) - Oxford University London Scottish () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1953 Scotland 3 (0)

Rugby union career

Amateur career

Thomson played rugby for Oxford University.[3]

He later played rugby for London Scottish.[2]

International career

He was capped for Scotland 3 times in 1953.[4]

Outside of rugby

Medical career

Thomson became a doctor. He became a GP in Horsham, Sussex.[5]

He retired to Crieff in Perthshire.[6] He died in Crieff on 13 January 2020.

Bagpipes

Thomson learned the bagpipes at Aberdeen Grammar School.[6]

After school he joined the army where he was taught by Pipe Major Donald McLeod. He has composed more than 450 bagpipe tunes and has performed for the Queen.[2]

He has also been influenced by Seumas MacNeill, Pipe Major Brian McRae and the members of The Royal Scottish Pipers Society.[6]

He has now published several books of his bagpipe tunes.[7]

References

1. "Bruce Ewan Thomson".
2. MD, Eric Anderson. "Thomson's Tunes: a Scottish Retired Doctor Brings Fresh Air to the Bagpipes".
3. The Essential History of Rugby Union: Scotland. Nick Oswald and John Griffiths.
4. http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/5637.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match
5. MD, Eric Anderson. "Thomson's Tunes: a Scottish Retired Doctor Brings Fresh Air to the Bagpipes".
6. "Dr Bruce Thomson - Autobiography".
7. "Bruce Thomson : Pipetunes".