Ian Campbell (rugby union)

Ian Campbell (15 May 1928 – 11 November 2022)[1] was a Chilean rugby union footballer, of Scottish descent. He played as a fly-half and a centre. He is considered one of the best Chilean rugby players of all time, and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2012.

For other uses, see Ian Campbell (disambiguation).
Ian Campbell
Date of birth(1928-05-15)15 May 1928
Place of birthSantiago, Chile
Date of death11 November 2022(2022-11-11) (aged 94)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Centre
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1948–1961 Chile

Early life

His father, Colin Campbell, was a Scottish-born emigrant, businessman, and amateur football player, who had played for Chile in the 1910 South American Championship.[2]

Career

Campbell followed in the rugby footsteps of his older brother Donald Campbell, a Chile international who had been killed in action in 1944 while serving with the Royal Air Force.[3] The younger Campbell began playing rugby at the Saint Peter's School, in Valparaíso. He went to play for Prince of Wales Country Club, where he was also the captain.

Campbell was capped for the first time for Chile, on 5 September 1948[4] in a historical 21–3 win over Uruguay, in Buenos Aires. In fact, he never lost to the "Teros", when he played in the Chilean side, for the next 13 years. Campbell's best results were the runners-up title at the South American Championship three times, in 1951, 1958 and 1961. This last time, Chile lost narrowly to arch-rivals Argentina by 11–6, with Campbell missing five penalties. Campbell was then called "the most skilful player in South America".

Campbell left the National team the same year, but still played until the 1970s. After that, he became a coach.

Campbell's grandson, Santiago Fuenzalida, was a member of Chilean U-20 team for 2008 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy. He was killed in a car accident.[5]

In 2012, Campbell was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame along with his brother Donald.[3]

References
  1. Falleció Ian Campbell unos de los máximos referentes del rugby chileno (in Spanish)
  2. Chris Thau (15 May 2008). "Birthday accolade for father of Chilean rugby". IRB. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  3. "Chilean Rugby greats added to Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  4. "2012 Inductees: Ian and Donald Campbell | World Rugby".
  5. Chile's extra motivation to secure JWRT crown
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