imported>Hippo43 at 13:51, 23 April 2025

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{{short description|British Lions & Scotland international rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Craig Chalmers
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Craig Minto Chalmers
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|10|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Galashiels]], Scotland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| weight = 14 st 7 lbs (92 kg)
| ru_position = [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]]
| repteam1 = [[Scotland B national rugby union team|Scotland 'B']]
| repteam2 = [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
| repteam3 = [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]
| repyears1 = 1988–89
| repyears2 = 1989–99
| repyears3 = [[1989 British Lions tour to Australia|1989]]
| repyears4 = 1989-2001
| repcaps1 = 2
| repcaps2 = 60
| repcaps3 = 1
| reppoints1 =
| reppoints2 = 166
| reppoints3 = 6
| ru_ntupdate =
| amatyears1 = 1987-98
| amatyears2 = 2003-4
| amatyears3 = 2004-5
| amatteam1 = [[Melrose RFC|Melrose]]
| amatteam2 = [[Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.|Birmingham & Solihull Bees]]
| amatteam3 = [[Melrose RFC|Melrose]]
| years1 = 1996-1998
| years2 = 1998-1999
| years3 = 1999-2000
| years4 = 2000-2001
| years5 = 2001-2003
| apps1 = 7
| apps2 = 6
| apps3 = 6
| apps4 = 8
| clubs1 = [[Border Reivers (rugby)|Border Reivers]]
| clubs2 = [[Edinburgh Rugby]]
| clubs3 = [[Glasgow Warriors]]
| clubs4 = [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]]
| clubs5 = [[Worcester Warriors]]
| points1 = 8
| points2 = 54
| points3 = 25
| points4 = 6
| ru_clubupdate =
| ru_provinceyears1 = 1988-1995
| ru_province1 = [[South of Scotland rugby union team|The South]]
| ru_provinceapps1 =
| ru_provincepoints1 =
| ru_provinceupdate =
| coachteams1 = [[Melrose RFC|Melrose]]
| coachteams2 = [[Chinnor RFC]]
| coachteams3 = [[Esher RFC]]
| coachyears1 = 2004-2013
| coachyears2 = 2013-2013
| coachyears3 = 2013-
| occupation =
| spouse =
| children =
| relatives =
| school = [[Earlston High School]]
| university =
}}
'''Craig Minto Chalmers''' (born 15 October 1968) is a Scottish former [[rugby union]] player and coach. He represented [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] at international level. He made 60 international appearances for Scotland team and scored 166 points. He played at [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]] with his playing career beginning at Melrose in the amateur era and with the professional era seeing him play [[Border Reivers (rugby)|Border Reivers]] and [[Glasgow Warriors]] before moving on to English sides [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]], [[Worcester Warriors]] and [[Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.|Pertemp Bees]]. He had coaching roles with Melrose and the [[Scotland national under-20 rugby union team]]. He has later had a business career in security.

==Rugby union career==

===Early amateur career===
Chalmers played rugby while at [[Earlston High School]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12289720.inside-centre-role-for-craig/ |title=Inside centre role for Craig |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=25 September 1997 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> He was selected at stand-off for Scottish Schools against Australia in December 1985.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.list.co.uk.s3-website.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/the-list/1985-12-13/52/index.html |title=Rugger Down Under |work=[[The List (magazine)|The List]] |page=50 |date=13 December 1985 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

Chalmers played for [[Melrose RFC|Melrose]] and won the Scottish Cup with them in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-chalmers-rides-the-wind-1261053.html |title=Rugby Union: Chalmers rides the wind |first=Bill |last=Leith |work=The Independent |date=11 May 1997 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

===Provincial and professional career===

Chalmers played for [[South of Scotland District (rugby union)|South of Scotland District]].

When the South District turned professional as the [[Border Reivers (rugby)|Border Reivers]], he then played for them. That team disbanded in 1998 and he moved to [[Edinburgh Rugby]] for a season, before moving to [[Glasgow Warriors]] for another season.

In November 2000, Chalmers had not been included in Glasgow's European Cup squad and requested to go to [[Zurich Premiership]] side [[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]] on loan.<ref name="Scotsman interview 2005">{{Cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/chalmers-yearns-rebirth-scots-rugby-2476784 |title=Chalmers yearns for rebirth of Scots rugby |work=The Scotsman |date=4 April 2005 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/1023838.stm |title=Chalmers seeks Quins loan |work=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2000 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> In January 2001, Harlequins announced that they had extended the loan period for Chalmers until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-30001200.html |title=Hill stakes claim for Harlequins job |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=10 January 2001 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> By early April, he was clear that he did not wish to return to Glasgow.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12174653.chalmers-will-not-return-to-caledoniansformer-scotland-stand-off-sees-future-elsewhere/ |title=Chalmers will not return to Caledonians: Former Scotland stand-off sees future elsewhere |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=7 April 2001 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> Chalmers scored all his side's points in the semi-final of the [[2000–01 European Challenge Cup]] and was man of the match,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/story/0,3604,476914,00.html |title=Second-choice Chalmers rains vengeance on Falcons |first=Michael |last=Prestage |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=23 April 2001 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> with Harlequins eventually winning the competition. In June 2001 he had signed to [[Worcester Warriors]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12178391.douglas-opts-for-london/ |title=Douglas opts for London |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=30 June 2001 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

===Part-time playing contract===
In 2003, Chalmers turned down an approach from Melrose and instead signed a part-time contract to play for the Birmingham side [[Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.|Pertemp Bees]] that competed in the [[National Division One]] league.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11986549.chalmers-to-face-old-team-mates-in-pre-season/ |title=Chalmers to face old team-mates in pre-season |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=16 July 2003 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/feb/26/rugbyunion |title=Lion Chalmers still a worker Bee |first=Mike |last=Averis |work=The Guardian |date=26 February 2004 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

===International career===

Chalmers was capped by [[Scotland B national rugby union team|Scotland 'B']] twice in the period 1988–89.

He was not selected in Scotland's squad for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/434635.stm |title=Scots axe Chalmers |work=BBC Sport |date=31 August 1999 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> He was capped 60 times for Scotland, 56 times in his preferred position of [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]], but on occasion at [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]] and once as a substitute on the right [[Wing (rugby union)|wing]]. He was noted for his tactical kicking, support play, game management, & tackling which was something that fly halves of his time were not noted for.

His call up to the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] came just four months after his international debut.<ref name="Scotsman interview 2001">{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/interview-craig-chalmers-born-winner-popularity-contests-aside-1676662 |title=Interview: Craig Chalmers - A born winner, popularity contests aside |work=The Scotsman |date=20 May 2001 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> He went on the [[1989 British Lions tour to Australia]] and played in the first test. Although he scored some points from kicks, the Lions lost that match.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PA01AAAAIBAJ&pg=4316%2C580694|title=Lack of quality in crucial areas proves costly |first=Bill |last=McMurtrie |date=3 July 1989 |work=[[The Glasgow Herald]] |page=20)|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> In March 1993 he sustained a broken arm playing for Scotland against England at Twickenham,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12617471.return-of-the-conquered-hero/ |title=Return of the conquered hero |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=8 March 1993 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> so was out of the running for the [[1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12615980.eight-of-the-best-from-scotland-tour-caps-a-great-year-for-wright/ |title=Eight of the best from Scotland. Tour caps a great year for Wright |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=23 March 1993 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

He played in 13 matches for the Barbarians, between 1989 and 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/archive/profile/3545/c-m-chalmers/ |title=Player archive > C. M. Chalmers |website=www.barbarianfc.co.uk |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

===Coaching career===

At Worcester, Chalmers had some involvement in coaching the academy players.<ref name="Worcester coaching">{{cite news |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/7831550.17503-chalmers-eyes-coaching-role/ |title=17/5/03 - Chalmers eyes coaching role |work=Worcester News |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> In May 2003, Chalmers was announced as returning to [[Melrose RFC|Melrose]] as first team coach,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/3007077.stm |title=Chalmers is Melrose coach |work=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2003 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> although his Worcester contract ran until the end of June.<ref name="Worcester coaching"/> On returning to Melrose, he continued in a playing role initially, retiring as a player in March 2005 having made a total of 200 appearances for the club.<ref name="Scotsman interview 2005"/><ref name="Scotsman bow 2005">{{Cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/chalmers-takes-bow-2476783|title=Chalmers takes a bow |work=[[The Scotsman]] |date=28 March 2005 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

Chalmers also took up other coaching opportunities alongside his Melrose position. In October 2008, he and [[Tom Smith (rugby union, born 1971)|Tom Smith]] were announced as coaches for the [[Scotland national under-20 rugby union team]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12374821.chalmers-smith-coach-20s/ |title=Chalmers and Smith to coach Under 20s |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=25 October 2008 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> In 2010 he also was named as coached for the Barbarians in their annual game against [[Bedford Blues]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/craig-chalmers-lead-baa-baas-bedford-1732389 |title=Craig Chalmers to lead Baa-Baas at Bedford |work=The Scotsman |date=25 February 2010 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

By 2011 Melrose had won the championship title for the first time in 14 years, been in cup final for four successive years, and Melrose won the SRU's award for Club of the Season award.<ref name="Scotsman interview 2001"/> In April 2013 he confirmed that he would leave Melrose at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13099812.no-way-sru-yes-man/ |title=No way I could be an SRU 'yes' man |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=11 April 2013 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

Chalmers had joined [[Chinnor RFC]] in Oxford, before then announcing in August 2013 that he was to join London club [[Esher RFC]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/chinnor-let-down-craig-chalmers-1564714 |title=Chinnor ‘let down’ by Craig Chalmers |work=The Scotsman |date=14 August 2013 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/craig-chalmers-takes-esher-backs-coach-role-1563883 |title=Craig Chalmers takes Esher backs coach role |first=David |last=Ferguson |work=The Scotsman |date=22 August 2013 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

==Business career==

Chalmers was a marketing manager for Scottish Power from 1988 to 1996, before turning professional when [[rugby union]] went professional in Scotland.<ref name="linkedin">{{cite web|url=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/craig-chalmers-36539817|title=Craig Chalmers|website=Linkedin}}{{Self-published inline|date=April 2022}}</ref>

After finishing his playing career, Chalmers took up a job with a security company.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/interview-craig-chalmers-his-rivalry-gregor-townsend-1432098 |title=Interview: Craig Chalmers on his rivalry with Gregor Townsend |work=The Scotsman |date=10 February 2018 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Chalmers's father Brian was a former Melrose player. In February 1997, Brian collapsed and died while watching Chalmers play for Melrose against local rivals Hawick. Chalmers was unaware of this happening, only being taken aside and given this news as the match finished.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-hodge-s-kicking-puts-watsonians-in-control-1277873.html |title=Rugby Union: Hodge's kicking puts Watsonians in control |first=Bill |last=Leith |work=The Independent |date=10 February 1997 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref>

Chalmers's sister [[Paula Chalmers]] played for the [[Scotland women's national rugby union team|Scottish Women's rugby team]] and achieved an even higher number of caps.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/the-perils-of-paula-as-scottish-girls-struggle-to-get-act-together-1-1408957 |title=The perils of Paula as Scottish girls struggle to get act together |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]] |date=5 February 2006 |accessdate=16 August 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041112003751/http://www.melroserugby.bordernet.co.uk/profiles/chalmers-c.html archive of 2004 profile] on the Melrose RFC site

{{British and Irish Lions 1989}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1989 France}}
{{Four Home Unions 1990}}
{{Scotland Squad 1991 World Cup}}
{{Scotland Squad 1995 Rugby World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chalmers, Craig}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Border Reivers players]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland]]
[[Category:Glasgow Warriors players]]
[[Category:Harlequin F.C. players]]
[[Category:Melrose RFC players]]
[[Category:People educated at Earlston High School]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Galashiels]]
[[Category:Scotland 'B' international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Scotland international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Scottish rugby union coaches]]
[[Category:Scottish rugby union players]]
[[Category:Worcester Warriors players]]
[[Category:1991 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:1995 Rugby World Cup players]]

Craig Chalmers - Revision history

imported>Hippo43 at 13:51, 23 April 2025