George Mackie

George Yuill Mackie (19 April 1949 – 3 April 2020) was a Scotland international rugby union player.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He first joined an Aberdeen club called 'the Hairies'; before joining an established team Montrose.

He then moved to Highland club in Inverness. He was the only player capped by Scotland while representing Highland for all his caps. Colin Baillie, who coached him at the club, stated: He was an extraordinary ball player, great with his hands and he could run all day. He was one of the fittest boys I worked with. He led by example and was always there. On the pitch he would do any task and off the field he was the same. He did what some might have regarded as mediocre jobs, working as a janitor or in a distillery and he never took defeat easily.

Provincial career

Mackie played for North and Midlands.

Political career

Outside rugby Mackie was a local councillor for Nazeing in Essex, England. He ran for the Bumble's Green ward in Nazeing in 1987 as a Labour candidate.

Farming career

He had a 500 acre farm in Nazeing inherited from his father. He sold Christmas trees when in season and logs the rest of the year.

He had 2 sons, Robert and Hector. Robert is now in the Treasury, while Hector runs the farm.

Death

Mackie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died from the illness.