Angus Buchanan (15 January 1847 – 21 February 1927) was a Scottish international rugby and cricket player. One of the earliest Scottish players, he was capped for in 1871.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He also played simultaneously for Royal High School FP, and Edinburgh University.

Provincial career

Buchanan played for Edinburgh District.

International career

Buchanan played in the first ever side, and scored the first try in international rugby, after a deemed failed attempt by George Ritchie. Scotland had pushed a scrum over the English try-line, and Buchanan had fallen on the ball. This was converted by William Cross, which created the score (crucially because it was goals that counted, not tries). The English argued that the try should not stand, but it was awarded by the umpire Dr Hely Hutchinson Almond (also a Scot - the umpires were two on the field: one from each side) Almond made a questionable justification of his decision: According to one of the English players: According to confirmed records, Buchanan was the first Scotland player born, in January, 1847, and was twenty four years and two months old when capped.

Referee career

Buchanan became an international referee. He refereed the Scotland versus Ireland match on 14 February 1880.

Cricket career

Buchanan also played for the Scotland national cricket team.

In media

In fiction, Buchanan is a part of the larger Harry Potter universe, appearing in an excerpt written by J.K. Rowling for the Pottermore website. According to this, Angus Buchanan was born in a wizarding family, but was non-magical (i.e. a Squib). Also, he is supposed to have published a "path breaking" book called My Life as a Squib, which highlighted his struggles to survive in a community which disowned him and the way he found a home in the Muggle world.