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Gordon Bulloch (born 26 March 1975) is a former Scotland international rugby union player.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He made his debut for West of Scotland in November 1995 against a touring side, South African provincial team Griqualand West. He went on to captain West of Scotland from 1996 to 1997 and took West to promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

Professional career

The game turned professional in 1996 and he played for and captained Glasgow Rugby district team – now Glasgow Warriors. He is Glasgow Warrior No. 2 after his professional debut against Newbridge on 12 October 1996. He captained Glasgow through to 1999. In November he led the team to the quarter final play-off in the 1997–98 European Cup. In May 2002, he signed a further three-year contract with Glasgow. In December he made his 100th senior appearance for Glasgow.

Bulloch signed for Leeds Tykes in May 2005. He had joined on a two-year contract, although the following year Leeds Tykes were relegated from the Guinness Premiership in England and subsequently freed several players including Bulloch.

International career

He played for Scotland at U19 and U21 level and has been in four tours in South Africa. In 1996, he was an important player in helping the Scots to fourth place in the 1996 Students' World Cup.

In 1997, he was part of the squad for the Scotland XV tour and played in the three victories on the tour. He won his first A cap in 1997 for Scotland's victory over Emerging Wales, and went on to play against all of Scotland's Five Nations opponents at that level.

In December 1997 Bulloch made his full Scotland debut in an Autumn international against South Africa at the Murrayfield Stadium. Bulloch went on the 1998 tour of Oceania but in the first five minute of Scotland's first test against Australia he left the field with a dislocated shoulder. In 1999 his performances in Scotland's Five Nations success saw him force his way into the World XV. He played in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

In June 2001 he was called into the British & Irish Lions squad to cover for an injury to Phil Greening on the tour of Australia. He made five appearances, including a replacement appearance in the first Test in Brisbane. His only start came against New South Wales County when the Lions won 46–3.

In November 2002, he was named man of the match for his outstanding performance in Scotland's win over South Africa at Murrayfield. He was included in the Zurich World XV for 2002, a notional team list that was compiled based on ratings from detailed video analysis of performances during the past year. In August 2003 he played against Wales and in gaining his 53rd cap he became Scotland's most-capped hooker. He was named captain for the following match against the Irish.

He played in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

In 2005, Bulloch captained Scotland in the Six Nations

He was selected for the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and was picked as captain for the fifth tour match. He captained three of the Lions mid week games. He made his Test debut in the final Test game of the tour – becoming the only Scot to do so on the tour. Bulloch required stitches after an injury was sustained in a training ground incident involving himself and John Hayes. He retired from international rugby union shortly after his return from Lions duty.

In June 2014 he lost the accolade of Scotland's most capped hooker to Ross Ford.

Administrative career

In August 2008 he was appointed a non-executive director on the board of Scottish Rugby.

Business career

Bulloch moved back to Scotland and took up employment with Colliers CRE, and returned to play rugby with then third-division West of Scotland.

Bulloch now works for Highland Galvanisers in Elgin, as a technical consultant.

References

1. "Youth given a chance". The Herald. 6 November 1995. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
2. "West's Bulloch to lead Glasgow". The Herald. 8 August 1997. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
3. Ferguson, David (16 May 2002). "Young Scots have world at their feet". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
4. Hewett, Chris (13 December 2002). "Captaincy of Sale propels Robinson into Welsh turf war". The Independent. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
5. "Bulloch agrees Leeds Tykes move". BBC News. 19 May 2005.
6. "Leeds confirm mass player exodus". BBC News. 7 May 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
7. "Massacre at Murrayfield: the South Africans bounce back from a summer mauling by the Lions to Born-again 'Boks are a class above the rest". The Herald. 8 December 1997. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
8. Short, Paul (13 June 1998). "Rugby Union: Peerless Burke. Australia 45 Scotland 3". The Independent. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
9. "Injured Greening to leave Lions". The Irish Times. 15 June 2001. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
10. Rookwood, Dan (26 June 2001). "Lions stutter towards Test". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
11. "Battling Scots down Springboks". BBC News. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
12. "Zurich World XV". The New Zealand Herald. 22 December 2002. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
13. "Bulloch given shout for Irish test". The Scotsman. 3 September 2003. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
14. "The Times & The Sunday Times".
15. "Bulloch to lead Lions". The Guardian. 16 June 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
16. "Bulloch plays down training clash". BBC News. 15 June 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
17. "Ford reaches Scotland milestone". BBC News. June 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
18. "Bulloch back on board at Murrayfield". The Scotsman. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
19. "McKillop U-turn adds spice to league opener". The Scotsman. 26 August 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2017.

External links

• Gordon Bulloch at ESPNscrum

• 1975 births
• Living people
• Scottish rugby union players
• Rugby union hookers
• Leeds Tykes players
• Glasgow Warriors players
• Rugby union players from Glasgow
• British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland
• Scotland international rugby union players
• West of Scotland FC players
• People educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School
• 1999 Rugby World Cup players
• 2003 Rugby World Cup players