page_title: John Guthrie Tait
section_title: Rugby career
hierarchical_section_title: John Guthrie Tait / Rugby career
caption_attribution_description: English: Cambridge University rugby union team that faced Oxfod in The Varisty Match of 1880. Back Row (L-R): R.M.Yetts, J.G.Tait, A.R.Don Wauchope, E.Rice, S.Pater, J.A.Bevan, E.Storey, W.M.MacLeod. Front Row: E.S.Chapman, H.G.Fuller, J.T.Steele, C.P.Wilson, P.T.Wrigley, H.Y.L.Smith, A.S.Taylor.
context_page_description: John "Jack" Guthrie Tait V.D. was a Scottish educator who became principal of the Central College of Bangalore prior to the First World War. In his early adulthood, Tait was a notable sportsman playing rugby union as a forward for Cambridge University and represented the Scotland international team twice between 1880 and 1885. As well as being a talented rugby player, Tait was, like his brother Frederick Guthrie Tait, a notable amateur golfer.
context_section_description: Tait first came to note as a rugby player when he represented his college team, (Edinburgh Academical). In 1880 he was selected for the Scotland national team, in a Home Nations friendly against Ireland. Scotland were easy victors, winning by three goals to nil; but despite the victory Tait was not part of the Scotland team that faced England for the Calcutta Cup just two weeks later.
  In 1880, now a freshman at Peterhouse, Tait was selected for the Cambridge University team. At the end of the year Tait was part of the Cambridge team to face Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match, now played at Blackheath. This was Tait's first sporting 'Blue', and the game ended in a respectful draw. Tait missed the 1881 game, but was back in the team for the 1882, led by fellow Peterhouse student Herbert Fuller. The game was won by Oxford, thanks to a clever try scored by Alan Rotherham.
  Tait played one final notable game, when in 1885 he was called back into the Scotland side, to once again face Ireland, this time as part of the 1885 Home Nations Championship. The game ended in another Scottish victory, but Tait would not represent his country in rugby again.
caption: Tait with the 1880 Cambridge Varsity Match team. Tait is stood second on left with arms behind his back.
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