Gary Armstrong (rugby)
| Nickname | Border Terrier, Scrap-yard Dog | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 30 September 1966 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jedburgh, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | |||||||||||||||||
| Position | Scrum-half | ||||||||||||||||
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| Amateur clubs | |||
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| Years | Club / team | ||
| 1987–1995 | Jed-Forest RFC | ||
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Correct as of 5 March 2007
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| Professional / senior clubs | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2002–2004 1995–2002 |
Borders Newcastle Falcons |
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Correct as of 5 March 2007
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| National team(s) | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1988–1999 1989 |
Scotland British and Irish Lions |
51 0 |
(21) (0) |
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Correct as of 5 March 2007
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Gary Armstrong (born 30 September 1966 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish rugby union internationalist who played scrum-half. He played for Jed-Forest RFC, Newcastle Falcons, The Borders and represented Scotland and the British Lions. His nickname is the Border Terrier.
In a 2015 series of articles in The Herald titled "The 50 Greatest Scottish Rugby Players", Armstrong was ranked as Scotland's greatest. Armstrong was known for intuitive awareness and was as much an auxiliary flanker and had uncanny talent to break around the fringes. As well as providing quick service as the connection between forwards and backs he was known for his toughness and tackling well above his weight. His fearlessness on the pitch led to two serious knee injuries keeping him out the game for lengthy spells.
Armstrong captained Scotland to victory in the 1999 Five Nations and to a quarter final place in the same year's rugby world cup. He was scrum half in Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam win and his country's run to the 1991 rugby world cup semi final. He played 51 times for Scotland. He was an ever present in Newcastle Falcons 1998 premiership win.
Gary Armstrong had succeeded a fellow Lion and Scotland cap, Roy Laidlaw, as scrum half at Jed-Forest. Armstrong was helped in his development as a youngster by Jedforest moving Laidlaw to stand off with Armstrong playing scrum half.
Armstrong made his international debut in 1988, in a game against Australia building to their 1991 world cup victory. Armstrong displaced Laidlaw as the incumbent scrum half. Scotland lost 31–13 against one of Australia's best ever sides.
Richard Bath writes of him:
It was Armstrong's dart to the blind side that provided the spark opening the opportunity leading to Tony Stanger's try.
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