View source for David Sole

{{short description|British Lions & Scotland international rugby union player}}
{{distinguish|text=American actor and singer [[David Soul]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name            = David Sole<br/>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}}}
| image           =
| birth_name      = 
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|05|8}}
| birth_place     = [[Aylesbury]], [[Buckinghamshire]], England
| height          = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight          = {{convert|103|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| position        = [[Prop (rugby union)|Loosehead Prop]]
| amatyears1      = 
| amatteam1       = [[Exeter University RFC|Exeter University]]
| amatapps1       = 
| amatpoints1     = 
| amatyears2      = 1983–87
| amatteam2       = [[Bath Rugby|Bath]]
| amatapps2       = 
| amatpoints2     = 
| amatyears3      = 1987–92
| amatteam3       = [[Edinburgh Academical Football Club|Edinburgh Academicals]]
| amatapps3       = 
| amatpoints3     = 
| provinceyears1  = 
| province1       = [[Scottish Exiles (rugby union)|Anglo-Scots]]
| provinceapps1   = 
| provincepoints1 = 
| provinceyears2  = 
| province2       = [[Edinburgh District (rugby union)|Edinburgh District]]
| provinceapps2   = 
| provincepoints2 = 
| repteam1        = [[Scotland B national rugby union team|Scotland 'B']]
| repteam2        = [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
| repteam3        = [[British and Irish Lions]]
| repteam4        = [[World XV]]
| repcaps1        = 5
| repcaps2        = 44
| repcaps3        = 3
| reppoints1      = 0
| reppoints2      = 12
| reppoints3      = 0
| ru_ntupdate     = 
| repyears1       = 1983-85
| repyears2       = 1986–1992
| repyears3       = 1989
| repyears4       = 1992
| years1          = 
| ru_clubupdate   = 
| apps1           = 
| points1         = 
| coachteams1     = [[Edinburgh Academical Football Club|Edinburgh Academicals]]
| coachyears1     = 
| ru_coachupdate  = 
| school          = [[Glenalmond College]]
}}

'''David Michael Barclay Sole''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 8 May 1962) is a former [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] international [[rugby union]] player.

He was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[1993 New Year Honours]].<ref>UK list: {{London Gazette |issue=53153 |date=31 December 1992 |pages=12 |supp=1}}</ref>

==Rugby Union career==

===Amateur career===

He was educated at [[Blairmore School|Blairmore]] prep school and [[Glenalmond College]], a private school in [[Perthshire]].

He went to Exeter University and played for their rugby side.

He played for [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] and then moved to play for [[Edinburgh Academical Football Club|Edinburgh Academicals]].

===Provincial career===

He played for [[Scottish Exiles (rugby union)|Scottish Exiles]] (then Anglo-Scots) in the [[Scottish Inter-District Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19841217&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref>

When he moved to play for Edinburgh Academicals, he then turned out for [[Edinburgh District (rugby union)|Edinburgh District]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19871214&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref>

===International career===

While still with Exeter University rugby club he was capped by [[Scotland B national rugby union team|Scotland 'B']]. He received 5 'B' caps in total.

He made his full senior [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] debut in 1986 against France and went on to win 44 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] at [[Rugby union positions#1. Loosehead prop .26 3. Tighthead prop|prop]] between 1986 and 1992, with a record 25 as captain.<ref name=Bath>Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}}), p160</ref> He was also the first choice loosehead prop with the victorious [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] in [[1989 British Lions tour to Australia|Australia in 1989]].

In 1990, Sole was captain for a [[Grand Slam (Rugby Union)|Grand Slam]] decider at [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]] against hot favourites [[England national rugby union team|England]].<ref name=Bath/> This is sometimes considered to be Scotland's greatest match, and one well remembered, as Richard Bath wrote:

:"''David Sole is another of those players who is remembered and virtually defined by one moment: in this case it was when he made the decision for his side to take the now famous walk onto the pitch for the Grand Slam decider against [[England national rugby union team|England]] at [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]] in 1990. As a statement of resolve, it was a masterstroke from which the English never recovered as they lost the most high-profile game in Five Nations Rugby history. It also cemented Sole's name in Scottish folklore...''

:"''[David Sole was] one of the game's most softly-spoken and considered men off the field and one of the most inspirational and thoughtful captains and players on it.''"<ref name=Bath/>

Scotland won 13-7, denying England the Grand Slam and claiming their third Grand Slam after their previous triumphs in 1925 and 1984.

He captained a [[World XV]] to a victory against the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]] in 1992. He made his final international appearance for Scotland in 1992 against Australia. That year he stood for election as [[Rector of the University of Dundee]], but despite being the favourite candidate he was defeated by [[Stephen Fry]].<ref name=Dundee>{{cite web|title=Rectorial elections|url=http://www.archives-records-artefacts.com/2010/02/rectorial-elections.html|work=Archives, Records and Artefacts at the University of Dundee|publisher=[[University of Dundee]]|access-date=7 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326172616/http://www.archives-records-artefacts.com/2010/02/rectorial-elections.html|archive-date=26 March 2012}}</ref>

==Media career==

Since retiring Sole has worked as a co-commentator for BBC Scotland's coverage of rugby union matches.

==Business career==

He has also embarked on a successful career outside of sport, becoming [[Managing Partner]] of "School for CEOs'" in 2017<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.schoolforceos.com/about-us/the-team/david-sole/ |title=David Sole - School for CEOs |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010245/https://www.schoolforceos.com/about-us/the-team/david-sole/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as [[Non-executive director]] of AM Bid Services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insider.co.uk/appointments/david-sole-am-bid-services-12266208|title = Scotland rugby legend to remain on East Lothian firm's board|date = 28 March 2018}}</ref>

==Family==

Three of Sole's four children have also represented their country in international sport. His sons [[Chris Sole|Chris]] and [[Tom Sole|Tom]] both play for the [[Scotland national cricket team|Scotland cricket team]], while his daughter Gemma plays for the [[Scotland national netball team|Scotland netball team]]. His other son Jamie is also a rugby player, and played professionally with [[Newcastle Falcons]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sole shakers: The family driving Scottish sport forward|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/644261|access-date=15 March 2018|publisher=International Cricket Council|date=14 March 2018}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

;Sources
{{refbegin}}
#[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311103754/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=KMEMHBULYX51VQFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/25/srsole25.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/27/ixrugu.html Canny Hadden will have spotted chinks in England's armour], Telegraph, 25 February 2006
#[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312002412/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=234092006 Sole backs Scots to shock England], The Scotsman, 15 February 2006
#[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311103744/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=DJWA0XIMFYCZPQFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/14/srsole14.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/14/ixrugu.html Reasons to be cheerful despite defeat in Cardiff], Telegraph, 14 February 2006
#[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311102800/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/03/21/srsole21.xml&sSheet=/sport/2005/03/21/ixrugu.html Scanty evidence for Williams' bold boast] - Telegraph, 21 March 2005
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{Scottish Sports Hall of Fame|david-sole-obe}}
* [http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=325&id=474272002 David Sole] in [[The Scotsman]] newspaper
* [http://www.davidsole.com/ David Sole, Executive Coaching Consultant]
* [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldgrovians/news/all-time-world-xv-813257.html All Time World XV]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=7504 David Sole at Rugby Heroes Part 1]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=7505 David Sole at Rugby Heroes Part 2]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=7502 David Sole at Rugby Heroes Part 1 (International Caps)]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=7503 David Sole at Rugby Heroes Part 2 (International Caps)]

{{Scotland squad 1987 RWC}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1989}}
{{Four Home Unions 1990}}
{{Scotland Squad 1991 World Cup}}
{{Barbarian RFC Captains in Internationals}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sole, David}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter]]
[[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bath Rugby players]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland]]
[[Category:Edinburgh Academicals rugby union players]]
[[Category:Edinburgh District (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at Blairmore School]]
[[Category:People educated at Glenalmond College]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Aylesbury]]
[[Category:Rugby union props]]
[[Category:Scotland 'B' international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Scotland international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Scottish Exiles (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:Scottish rugby union commentators]]
[[Category:Scottish rugby union players]]
[[Category:1987 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:1991 Rugby World Cup players]]