Ronald Francis Simson was born in Scotland on 6 September 1890. Educated at Edinburgh University, he decided to join the army and went to the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich. 

There he joined the XV, and played in the match against Sandhurst Royal Academy, which he helped to win 49-9. At the same time, he also played for London Scottish, where he scored a try.

Ronald was only selected once for Scotland against England in 1911. Despite scoring a try, the team lost 13-8. That same year, Ronald joined the Royal Field Artillery. Just before the outbreak of war, he was promoted to Lieutenant in the 116th Battery.

At the age of 34, he was deployed to the Western Front as soon as the conflict broke out. During the First Battle of the Aisne on 14 September 1914, near Cerny-en-Laonnois, a shell exploded under his horse, killing them both instantly.

He is resting at Moulins Communal Cemetery. Ronald Francis Simson is known as the first Scottish international rugby player to be killed in the First World War.