Mike Biggar
Birth name | Michael Andrew Biggar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 20 November 1949 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Aberdeen, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of Cambridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Alastair Biggar, cousin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mike Biggar (born 20 November 1949) is a former Scotland international rugby union player.[1][2]
Rugby Union career
[edit]Amateur career
[edit]Biggar was educated at Sedbergh School in Cumbria, where he was Head of School,[3] then went up to Queens' College, Cambridge, where he read Law and won a Blue in rugby in 1971.[4]
He went on to play for London Scottish.
Provincial career
[edit]He played for the Anglo-Scots district.
International career
[edit]He was capped by Scotland 'B' to play against France 'B' in 1975.
He appeared for Scotland in 24 international matches between 1975 and 1980, four times as captain.[5]
Administrative career
[edit]He is a vice-president of Minety Rugby Club.[6]
Car accident and health
[edit]In 1992, he was involved in an automobile accident in which he sustained severe head injuries and became disabled, requiring a wheelchair and unable to walk without difficulty.[5][7]
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while recovering from a debilitating kidney infection, and inspired by Captain Tom Moore, he decided to try to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together by walking 100 steps in a month.[5][7] As of 10 August 2021, he had raised over £87,000 via JustGiving.[8]
Family
[edit]He lives in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, with his wife Ali.[5][7] Fellow London Scottish and Scotland player Alastair Biggar was his cousin.
References
[edit]- ^ "Michael Andrew Biggar". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ "Mike Biggar - International Rugby Caps for Scotland. - Scotland". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ "Former Scotland Rugby Captain Mike Biggar (S 63-68) Walks To Raise Money For The NHS". 22 April 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Queens' member takes on fundraising challenge for the NHS | Queens' College". www.queens.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Ex Scotland rugby captain inspired by Captain Tom". BBC News. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ "Former Lions ace boosts Minety's awards night". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Meet the people inspired by Captain Tom Moore". BBC Breakfast. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ "Mike's 100 Steps for the NHS". JustGiving. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- 1949 births
- Living people
- Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players
- London Scottish F.C. players
- Rugby union flankers
- Rugby union players from Aberdeen
- Scotland 'B' international rugby union players
- Scotland international rugby union players
- Scottish Exiles (rugby union) players
- Scottish rugby union players
- Scottish wheelchair users
- Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge
- People educated at Sedbergh School