Death of Donny Innes, who won caps pre and post-war

ONE of north-east Scotland’s greatest rugby characters, Donny Innes, has passed away at the age of 94.

Dr Innes was born John Robert Stephen Innes, but became known as ‘Donny’ in his childhood and the name stuck. Innes was one of a precious few Scotland internationalists to have played on either side of World War Two and there was little doubt that he would have won more than his eight caps had the war not intervened.

He would also go on to become a popular president of the Scottish Rugby Union in the 1970s.

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However, as a player, Innes made three appearances in the 1939 Five Nations Championship, and then captained Scotland in the next five in the 1947-48 season, which included facing an Australian team that included Doug Keller, who was to switch to Scottish colours in 1949 and win seven caps on this side of the world.

Innes played centre in six of his internationals, and right wing in two. He was one of six new caps that took on Wales at Cardiff in 1939, and he moved out to the wing for the Lansdowne Road match three weeks later, where he scored his only capped international try.

Scotland won only one of his eight internationals – 6-4 against France at Murrayfield in 1948, his second match as captain. The success was Scotland’s first post-war win after a championship whitewash, without Innes, in 1947 and then the defeat by the Wallabies.

An officer in the RAMC, he also played in five Services Internationals during the war scoring three tries in these games, two in the 1943 match against England at Leicester. Innes also played in one Victory International, against England at Twickenham in March 1946.

As an administrator, Innes was president of the SRU in season 1973-74 and, a keen fan of rugby in his native north-east and Scotland, he was a regular supporter at Murrayfield international matches well into his 90s. He passed away at home in Aberdeen on Saturday.

Innes was also one of the oldest living Barbarians, having represented the famous touring team in Wales. He scored three tries on his debut for the Baa-Baas, against Penarth on a Welsh tour in 1946, and also cherished the memory of playing for the North and Midlands against the All Blacks in his home city of Aberdeen in 1935.

When Scotland returned to the north, to play the Barbarians at Pittodrie, he was an enthusiastic supporter and backed the SRU’s moves to bring more international matches to Aberdeen.

In 2005, when the first Scotland match with the Barbarians was held at the Aberdeen football ground, a match that ended in a convincing 38-7 home win, he told The Scotsman: “I hope the whole of the north come out and support the Barbarians. They are a fantastic institution and it will be great for all the people up here to see rugby as it should be played.

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“It is also great that Scotland are coming here for rugby in the north-east and I hope people go and watch them.”

The Scottish Rugby Union yesterday extended its condolences to Donny Innes’s family and friends.

A memorial service is due to be held at Queens Cross Church in Aberdeen at a later date for all those who wish to pay tribute.

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