Robert Neilson

Robert Neilson (17 November 1874 – 16 July 1945 ) was a Scotland international rugby union player.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He also played for West of Scotland FC.

Provincial career

He was capped for Glasgow District in 1898.

Administrative career

He was President of the Scottish Rugby Union for the period 1923 to 1924.

Family

His father was James Neilson, an Ironmaster and second cousin of Walter Montgomerie Neilson and his mother was Jane Thomson, daughter of George Thomson, the famous Glasgow shipbuilder. He attended Merchiston Castle School. An engineer by profession he was a director of the Summerlee Iron Company Ltd. One of the four Neilson brothers played in each of the twenty five matches between Willie and George's debut in 1891, until 1899, when Robert had to withdraw from the Calcutta Cup line-up after breaking his nose. Robert played another match in 1900.

Along with his brothers, Willie and George, he was a president of the Scottish Rugby Union. At the time of his death, he was Scotland's sole representative on the International Board of Rugby.