Career
Shaw played club for Glasgow High School Former Pupils, and could play in several positions in the backline. Including wing, centre and fullback. He first represented Scotland in 1934 when he played all three of her Home International Championship matches (against England, Ireland, and Wales).
He scored his first try in the Calcutta Cup match against England that year.
He is most famous however for guiding Scotland to their Triple Crown victory over England at Twickenham in 1938. Shaw"s performance was central to Scotland"s 21–16 victory and he was carried off the field on the shoulders of his team-mates.
The match became known as "Wilson Shaw"s match". In 2002 Shaw was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.
Wilson Shaw also played the All Blacks in 1935 in a Combined Edinburgh and Glasgow XV. Shaw was selected for the Great Britain team that toured Argentina in 1936.
Although no caps were awarded for the tour, Shaw was part of the one Test of the tour, a 23-0 victory over Argentina. Shaw participated in all three of Scotland"s Championship matches in 1938. Although Scotland only scored one try to Wales two, their superior kicking gave them the victory.
Shaw had a good game, although he did not score any tries.
The last match of the Championship was against England at Twickenham Stadium on 19 March. The match was played in front of 70,000 spectators.
This was also the first ever rugby international to be televised. Shaw scored one try in the first half, and Scotland led 12–9 at the break.
In the second half Scotland frequently penetrated the England defence.
The match became known as "Wilson Shaw"s match". Since France was still banned from the competition at this stage, this would have been the nearest thing to a Scottish Grand Slam. Shaw"s playing qualities were considered somewhat of an enigma.
He was fast, could run well, could pass and dummy pass, and could sidestep many defenders.
However Shaw was considered a flawed genius due to his inconsistency. Whilst he was without equal on his day, he could also produce performances equally as poor.
The weakest technical aspect of his game was considered his kicking, and his defence could also be poor. Despite this, following the Triple Crown winning victory over England in 1938, the press proclaimed him "the greatest rugby player of his generation".
Seasoned player and journalist J.B.G. Thomas wrote of Glasgow High School FP fly-half Wilson Shaw "I cannot ever remember seeing an outside half with greater speed off the mark than shaw."
Richard Bath writes:
"Shaw was so consistently outstanding at fly-half that became Scotland"s regular Number.
10, eventually becoming captain and leading Scotland to the Triple Crown in 1938.".