Duncan Paterson, the former Scotland scrum-half, has died aged 66, the Scottish Rugby Union has announced.

Paterson won 10 caps between 1969 and 1972 and when his playing days were over he became Scotland's team manager.

The Scotsman reported on Wednesday Paterson had died from a suspected heart attack.

Gala half-back Paterson was a member of the Scotland XVs that defeated England twice on successive weekends in 1971.

Paterson's try and drop-goal were key scores in a 16-15 win at Twickenham - Scotland's first at the London ground since 1938 - and a week later, in a match at Murrayfield to mark the centenary of the fixture, he featured in a 26-6 victory.

After retirement he ran a knitwear and textile business and following Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam success he was appointed team manager.

He oversaw the side's march to fourth place at the 1991 World Cup and he was also in charge in South Africa four years later.

Paterson, whose nephew Chris Paterson is Scotland's most-capped player and record points scorer, also served on the SRU's general committee.

He stepped down in 1998 after receiving widespread criticism for his role in creating four pro-teams and then merging them into just two sides as Scottish rugby struggled to cope with the advent of professionalism.

Jim Telfer, who was Paterson's captain when the scrum-half made his Scotland debut in a 6-3 win over South Africa at Murrayfield and later worked with him at the SRU, told the Scotsman: "Dunc was hounded out of the SRU by clubs and the media, who did not understand what was going on.

"It was a tremendous loss. There have been about half a dozen people involved at Murrayfield who really knew about rugby and he was one of them."

Scotland great Gavin Hastings added: "Duncan was a tremendous team manager and really developed that role very successfully, particularly in 1995 when I was captain in the World Cup and we were heading towards professionalism."

Paterson, despite the way he left the SRU, remained a rugby fan and as recently as last week was among the crowd for the match between Gala and their Border rivals Hawick at Netherdale.

SRU president Jim Stevenson said: "Duncan Paterson was a true rugby man who gave a lifetime of service to the game, firstly as a gifted player and then in a variety of off-field roles for club, district and country, always seeking to recognise the big picture.

"On behalf of Scottish Rugby, I extend our sincere sympathies to his family and friends."

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