[2][3][4] He was made captain of the club for season 1914–15, but the First World War intervened and his captaincy was then never displayed on the pitch.
[3] He was selected to play for London Counties against South Africa in their European tour, along with fellow Scotland players Lewis Robertson, Walter Michael Dickson and Charlie Usher,[7] however Dickson did not play and his place was taken by another Scotland player William Purves.
However at this point the London clubs were getting frustrated by the number of representative matches their players had to face and the Scotland internationals thus took a stand and declined that invitation.
The London clubs, with all their loyalty to the Union, have resented the introduction of so many representative matches at headquarters on Saturdays.
[10] He was not originally selected to play, but due to his London Scottish teammate Lewis Robertson who was originally selected for Scotland being unable to play in the match due to the death of his father, Robert was then drafted in as a replacement.
Initially reported as missing in action in 1914 and presumed dead,[15] he was later found to be wounded in battle and captured.