BLUES BROTHERS
It’s a family affair in the Scotland pack as the Fagersons are unleashed on America
IN THE early hours of Sunday morning, brothers Matt and Zander Fagerson will take the field for Scotland for the first time together.
The Glasgow Warriors duo are aged only 19 and 22, respectively, and are both very much at the beginning of what promises to be exciting careers for club and country.
Here, Sportsmail’s Rob Robertson talks to the proud pair to discuss the weekend’s Test against the USA — and their hopes for what’s to come in the future.
MATT, A FIRST CAP IS ALWAYS SPECIAL BUT IT MUST BE EVEN MORE SO FOR YOU GIVEN YOU’LL BE STARTING ALONGSIDE YOUR BIG BROTHER?
Matt: Yes, it is. I always looked up to Zander. I grew up as the younger brother of the bloke who was making the Scotland Under-20s squad when he was 17, making his Glasgow debut at 18 and his Scotland debut so young, as well, especially for a prop. I was very proud of him growing up. I’ve not tried to emulate him, but I wanted to follow in the same footsteps. He’s got more caps and more experience. I still have a lot to learn — as does he! He’s always treated me as an equal. Playing together with him will be massive for me, a huge honour and really exciting.
SATURDAY MUST BE A PROUD MOMENT FOR YOU, TOO, ZANDER, AS YOU ARE SHARING YOUR BROTHER’S DEBUT?
Zander: Yeah, absolutely. Matt’s developed into a pretty handy player. He’s a great ball-carrier, has really good footwork and has brought really strong defence into his game. He’s an all-round package, an asset to any team, and I’m enjoying playing with him at Glasgow.
YOU ARE VERY DIFFERENT BODY SHAPES, WITH YOU BEING A PROP, ZANDER, AND MATT BEING A FLANKER — HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO PLAY IN THE OTHER’S POSITION?
Zander: I started in the back row but couldn’t make it as a No 8, so I was told to eat. It’s worked out all right! In saying that, I used to hate all the scrum stuff.
My old mates at Dundee High know I played one game at prop, got a sore neck and got absolutely smashed and I said I’m never playing prop again!
They were there for my first Scotland cap at prop, laughing their heads off.
BUT DO YOU NOT ENVY MATT WITH HIS FANTASTIC PACE?
Zander: I wouldn’t call it galloping. A trot maybe!
WHAT ABOUT YOU, MATT, DID YOU LOOK AT YOUR BIG BROTHER AND WANT TO BE A PROP?
Matt: You must be joking! I’ve never looked at a front row and thought: ‘I’d love to be in there’.
ARE ANY OF YOUR FAMILY COMING OUT TO HOUSTON FOR THE GAME?
Matt: We have got an uncle who lives in Boston and some of our cousins are coming across, which is cool. Hopefully, we get to see them after the game.
Zander: He isn’t coming across, but our grandad is American and it will be pretty cool for him to watch us playing together against the USA on television. He lives in Scotland. He’s in Aberfeldy, but from Michigan. He’s called Ladd Fagerson. He went to Harvard and studied theology and history there, I believe.
YOUR PARENTS GWENDOLYN AND JONATHAN HAVE BEEN HUGELY SUPPORTIVE. DO THEY COME ALONG TO MANY GAMES?
Matt: I can’t really think of a home game when one of them wasn’t there. I’ll probably phone mum before the game. She’ll say: ‘Have you got your suncream on?’ That’ll be the first question. Zander: Mother’s an institution. ‘How’s the heat?’ Yeah pretty hot, mum. Matt: She worries all the time. Zander’s probably better than I am at calling home. I struggle to always phone home to see what everyone is up to. Zander: She’s at all the games. She’s there with Dad, who’s screaming and she’s there saying: ‘He’s not with me...’ They’re very supportive. They go to every Glasgow home game and it’s a three-hour round trip from home, Kirriemuir in Angus. They usually get home at about 1am.
Matt: Mum and Dad will definitely feel like it’s all been worth it. Dad was always mad keen on rugby. Both are massively supportive and I’m sure they’re immensely proud and we’re both very grateful to them for the work they’ve put into us.
YOU ARE ON THE SAME SIDE AGAINST THE USA, OF COURSE, BUT AS KIDS DID YOU GET STUCK INTO EACH OTHER IN THE BACK GARDEN?
Zander: Yes. Our friends would come over to the house and we’d play football. It used to turn into extreme football, slide tackles, full-on rugby tackles. We were a really competitive bunch. We’d play touch in the garden that would sometimes turn into full contact.
WHEN YOU GET OUT ON THE FIELD, WILL YOU KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR WEE BROTHER, ZANDER?
Zander: Ach, he’ll be fine. He’s a big boy, he can look after himself.
WHAT DO BOTH OF YOU RECALL ABOUT ZANDER’S FIRST CAP OFF THE BENCH AGAINST ENGLAND IN THE 2016 SIX NATIONS?
Zander: I was nervous before my first cap. I think you had an Under-18 game, didn’t you Matt? But you managed to sneak out when you weren’t supposed to. Mum and Dad took you to the game. From my point of view, my international debut was a big step up and it flew by really quickly.
Matt: When it comes to making your international debut, I’d say you worry more when you’re on the sidelines, worrying about ‘what if ’.
What if the No 8 gets injured in the first two minutes? When you’re starting, as I am on Saturday, you can get it all nailed down. I’m more comfortable starting.
Also, Zander’s right. I was in the Under-18 camp when he made his Scotland debut. Two days before, you presented us our jerseys.
On debut, I remember distinctly we were watching the screen because it was quite difficult to see you on the touchline from our seats. You were up and down about three or four times before you got on.
Zander: They got every last drop out of WP Nel before I went on.
Matt: It was a very special moment.