Shillinglaw a pioneer in switch of codes
THE death of Brian Shillinglaw, the former Gala and Scotland scrum-half, has been announced. He was 68.
Born in July 1939, Shillinglaw enjoyed a winning international debut when he played against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 1960. His other caps were earned against England, France and South Africa - he played the Springboks twice.
Shillinglaw's first club was Gala Wanderers, one of Gala's feeder clubs. He then played some 65 times for the town's senior side, appearing at centre and stand-off as well as at scrum-half.
While on national service in 1960 and 1961 he also played for his regiment, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and for the Army.
A bricklayer by trade, he turned professional in 1961 when he switched to rugby league and joined Whitehaven. It was widely believed at the time that the Cumbrian club had paid him a signing-on fee of ?5,000, but that offer had conditions attached, and Shillinglaw said later he had never received any of the money.
He had a short spell with Whitehaven. His speed and skill were admired, but he only briefly managed to oust the big local favourite David Hazeldon from the scrum-half berth. He then moved on to become an established member of the Wigan squad.
There was a big, rigidly policed social divide between rugby union and rugby league in those days, and Shillinglaw's switch to the 13-a-side code led to his being ostracised in some Scots circles. But his move to league meant that he was one of the first Scots to play professional rugby, and in that sense he was a pioneer.
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