Willie Burnett

Willie Burnett

Full name	William Burnett
Date of birth	15/5/1862
Place of birth	Hawick, Scotland
Date of death	1948
Place of death	Scotland
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	11st 7lb
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Centre and Half-back
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
1882-1888	Hawick
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1887 1887	Roxburgh South of Scotland
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1888	British Isles	22	0

Willie Burnett (1862 - 1948), was a rugby union footballer of the 1880s, who played in Scotland for Hawick, and was selected to play at a representative level for the British Isles on the 1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia, the first tour by a team representing the British Isles. He and his brother Bob, are also notable for being the first set of siblings to tour together for the Lions.

Early life and career

William was born on 15th May 1862 in Hawick, Scotland having an older brother Robert Burnett (born on 18th February 1860).

Domestic career

Willie Burnett played for six seasons for Hawick RFC up to 1888. He was captain of the club in the 1883-1884 season and was also selected to play for his county side, Roxburgh. In addition he was selected to play for the South of Scotland. He was described as "one of the best centre three-quarters going, and also a brilliant half back". In their appraisal of him, the Otago Witness also said "he can play anywhere behind the maul. He is a sure tackier and good dodger, a very useful passer, powerful kicker, and is very fast"

British Isles

The 1888 tour was organized by two cricket professionals, Arthur Shrewsbury and Alfred Shaw, and they selected Willie along with his brother Bob, making the siblings the first set to tour together for the Lions. Burnett was described as a regular throughout as he played 22 times, making his first appearance in the third match on tour against Canterbury in a 14-6 win. He also featured in the final six matches culminating in the 1-1 draw with Wanganui.

Later life

During the 1888 tour, after the Brisbane match, Willie's brother Bob made his made up to stay in Australia. Willie on the other hand, along with his fellow Hawick RFC teammate, Alex Laing, returned to face questioning about their amateur status in Glasgow as soon as they returned. Along with the rest of the tour party, they were found not to have contravened the rules and in late November 1888 they returned to Hawick, apparently to a hero’s welcome. Like his brother Bob, William also emigrated, but not to Australia. Rather, he went to Buffalo, Wyoming where he and Alex Laing set up a successful sheep farming ranch. He later returned to Scotland and died there aged 86.