Dobie wants to stake claim at scrum-half for Glasgow
Warriors half-back targets No.9 shirt in bid to increase chances of being called up for international duty
JAMIE DOBIE wants more time at scrum-half for Glasgow Warriors as he targets adding to his international honours on Scotland’s summer tour. Inverness-born Dobie, who came through the ranks at Edinburgh’s Merchiston Castle School before signing professional terms in 2019, has made more than 50 appearances for the Scotstoun side.
He’s also won two Scotland caps since his debut against Tonga in the autumn of 2021.
Dobie follows fellow internationals Huw Jones, Scott Cummings, Jamie Bhatti and Johnny Matthews in committing his future to the club.
Dobie was pleased to have his future sorted, adding it was an easy decision.
He said: “It’s an awesome feeling to have that sorted and to be staying here for the next few years.
“I first came over two or three weeks after finishing school and that was my first pre-season in Dave Rennie’s last year. The first couple of years were a bit disrupted with the pandemic but the last few years have been really settled and we’ve got to a really strong place as a squad.”
Dobie said he’s been encouraged by head coach Smith’s policy of rotating the team and wants to feature in as many big games as he can.
The 22-year-old has found his opportunities limited at scrum-half with George Horne established as first choice and Ben Afshar taking the role with Horne away during the Six Nations.
That has partly been down to an illtimed injury within weeks of Ali Price’s loan departure to Edinburgh.
“I think in the space of about two weeks we went from having all of us available,” Dobie said. “And then Ali moved across to Edinburgh so it looked like there might have been a few more opportunities for me to play at nine and that weekend I picked up the injury. That’s what just seems to happen in sport. Injuries are just part of it.
“The timing could have been better right in a big block of games but I’ve been fortunate with injuries in the past so I just had to do my time.
“When boys got injured, Sean [Kennedy] and Ben [Afshar] really stepped up. That just shows the depth we’ve got in the position.”
With Afshar in possession of the No.9 shirt, Dobie has had to contend with a role on the wing, where Glasgow have been short due to injuries and international selections.
He’s happy to fill in there, but knows it’s not a long-term option.
Dobie said: “I’m happy to play on the wing when Franco [Smith, Glasgow head coach] and the coaches need me to.
“But I want to be playing at scrumhalf as much as I can. It’s natural with the 6-2 split that scrum-halves will end up on the wing at some point, and I’m happy covering that role, but
hoping to get my time at scrum-half.”
One of Dobie’s ambitions during his time at the club is to add to the Pro12 title the club won in 2015.
He said: “Franco and the coaches talk a lot about our goal, which is to be the best version of ourselves every time we represent this club.
“Everyone is pulling towards the same destination and our target is to be consistently challenging for silverware.
“We want to push on and bring a trophy back to Scotstoun and I know the supporters will be with us every step of the journey.”
And the young half-back knows he must command the number nine shirt on a more regular basis if he is to force his way into Gregor Townsend’s thinking on a more regular basis.
He is part of the Scotland squad for the Six Nations, but finds himself competing with Horne, Price and first-choice Ben White for a place in the matchday XXIII.
Dobie said adding to his cap haul is a “massive driver” going forward.
“I’ve probably not played more than about 80 minutes at scrum-half this season due to injury or being moved or playing in the wing, so I need to spend time and be confident in the role at scrum-half,” he said.
“It’s nice being on the pitch and I’m happy to play on the wing but scrumhalf and spending time there in big matches will bring the most value to me.”
If he can get more time in the Warriors’ No.9 shirt between now and the season’s end, Dobie is hopeful he can earn a place on Scotland’s summer tour to the Americas.
He said: “Getting back into the Scotland squad is an ambition and the summer tour is a target for me.
“You want to be selected in all the national camps but with injuries and the amount of game-time that I’ve had then the rest of the season is the chance for me to try to show I deserve to go on that tour.”