{{Short description|British Lions & Scotland international rugby union player & referee}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Jimmy Gillespie | image = | caption = | birth_name = John Imrie Gillespie | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date|1879|1|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scotland/rugby/player/1340.html|title=John Imrie Gillespie|website=ESPN scrum}}</ref> | death_date = {{Death date and age|1943|12|5|1879|1|16|df=yes}} | death_place = | height = | weight = | ru_position = Half-back | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = Edinburgh Academicals | ru_amclubcaps = | ru_amclubpoints = | ru_amupdate = | province1 = Edinburgh District
| provinceyears1 = | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | ru_provinceupdate = | repteam1 = Scotland | repteam2 = British and Irish Lions | repyears1 = 1899–1904 | repyears2 = 1903 | repcaps1 = 10 | repcaps2 = 3 | reppoints1 = 27 | reppoints2 = 4 | ru_ntupdate = | refereeyears1 = | refereecomps1 = Home Nations | refereeapps1 = | ru_refereeupdate = | occupation = chartered accountant }} '''John Imrie Gillespie''' (16 January 1879 – 5 December 1943<ref>[http://www.espnscrum.com/scotland/rugby/player/1340.html John Gillespie player profile] Scrum.com</ref>), known as '''Jimmy Gillespie''', was a Scottish international rugby union player, who played for {{nrut|Scotland}} and the Lions.<ref name=Bath1>Bath, p117</ref><ref name=Godwin>Godwin, p164</ref>
==Rugby Union career==
===Amateur career===
At club level he played for Edinburgh Academicals.<ref name=Bath1/><ref name=Godwin/><ref name="news.google.com">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PoxEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RbUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3794,5994353|title=The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref>
===Provincial career===
He was capped by Edinburgh District in 1898.<ref name="news.google.com"/>
===International career===
Gillespie was selected for the 1903 British Lions tour to South Africa<ref name=Bath1/><ref name=Godwin/> and finished the tour as the top Test scorer for the touring team. He played in 19 matches during the tour including all three test games against South Africa. He scored 13 conversions and a single try on the tour,<ref>[http://www.lionsrugby.com/6012.php?player=19710&includeref=dynamic Lions profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201736/http://www.lionsrugby.com/6012.php?player=19710&includeref=dynamic |date=3 March 2016 }} lionsrugby.com</ref> and amassed four points in the first Test, the British failing to score in the second and third tests.
===Referee career===
He later became a successful referee, including two {{nrut|Wales}} vs {{nrut|England}} internationals, one in 1907, and the other in 1911.<ref name=Godwin/>
==Outside of rugby==
Gillespie was a chartered accountant.
==Bibliography== * Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Scotland Rugby Miscellany'' (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 {{ISBN|1-905326-24-6}}) * Godwin, Terry ''Complete Who's Who of International Rugby'' (Cassell, 1987, {{ISBN|0-7137-1838-2}}) * Massie, Allan ''A Portrait of Scottish Rugby'' (Polygon, Edinburgh; {{ISBN|0-904919-84-6}})
==Notes== {{reflist}}
{{British and Irish Lions 1903}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillespie, Jimmy}} Category:1879 births Category:1943 deaths Category:Scottish rugby union players Category:Scotland international rugby union players Category:Rugby union players from Edinburgh Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland Category:Scottish accountants Category:Scottish rugby union referees Category:Edinburgh Academicals rugby union players Category:Edinburgh District (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union halfbacks