John Jeffrey

Published on Thursday 2 May 2002 01:00

Dubbed ‘The White Shark’ by the media because of his distinctive blond hair, John Jeffrey (or JJ to his team-mates) seemed to have the ability to run all day. Invariably first to the breakdown point, first with the tackle, or first with an inspired counter, he had the priceless ability to score important tries. Jeffrey was capped 40 times by Scotland, making him Scotland’s most capped flanker, and scored 11 tries, another Scottish record which he shares with back-row colleague Derek White.

An outstanding performer in the Grand Slam season of 1990, Jeffrey had been a British Lion in the 1989 Tour of Australia, ironically being kept out of the Test side by his national team-mates Fin Calder and Derek White, and Englishmen Mike Teague who would suffer for this indignity in the famous Calcutta Cup showdown a year later.

An incredibly committed player, brave to the point of recklessness, Jeffrey in action was a joy to watch for any Scottish spectator, and assumedly an equal misery to opposing fans and players alike.