Ronald Simson

Ronald Francis Simson was a Scottish rugby union player for. Simson was the first Scottish rugby international to die in the First World War.

Early life

Ronald Simson was born in Edinburgh on 6 September 1880.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He attended Edinburgh Academy and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where he represented the Woolwich XV in a 49-9 victory over Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He also played for London Scottish, a team especially hard hit because many of them joined the London Scottish regiment.

Provincial career

He played for the Blues Trial side against the Whites Trial side on 21 January 1911, while still with London Scottish. He scored a try in the match but the Blues lost 19–26 to the Whites.

International career

Simson was selected to play for in one match, against at Twickenham on 18 March 1911. Simson scored one try for Scotland in the game, which they lost 13–8.

Military service

Simson joined the Royal Field Artillery in July 1911. Having played for the Army & Navy team, he was selected to represent Scotland against England in 1911. He was promoted in July 1914 to Lieutenant in the 116th Battery, 26th Brigade. Simson was killed in the First Battle of the Aisne, which was the Allied follow-up offensive against the right wing of the German First Army & Second Army as they retreated after the First Battle of the Marne earlier in September 1914. A shell exploded below the horse he was riding; both he and the horse were killed. He is buried at Moulins New Communal Cemetery in Aisne France.