Watson signs new deal in bid to win trophy with Edinburgh
HAMISH WATSON hailed the impact of Sean Everitt at Edinburgh as the Scotland back-row signed a new deal to remain at the club next season.
Watson, who has played more than 150 games for the club since his debut in 2011, said the work done by Everitt since his arrival last summer was a major factor in resisting a move away.
“I think any player at my stage of their career will look at options,” the 32-year-old said. “In the end, when you get to my stage of career and you have a family as well, it comes down to a bit more than just a rugby decision.
“I love playing for this club – this is my 13th season here and will be my 14th when I go into next year.
“The coaching staff played a part in it as well – Sean’s signing on for another two years. I get on really well with him and I think what he has done here so far has been really positive. So that played a part, and like I say ultimately it comes down to your family as well.”
Having been a mainstay of the national team for so long, Watson, the Six Nations Player of the Championship in 2021 and a Lions tourist that summer, was only a bit-part member of Scotland’s Six Nations squad this year.
He joined the squad before the Italy match but dropped out ahead of the Ireland game a week later. Watson explained that was after a discussion with head coach Gregor Townsend.
“That was more a decision on both fronts, that I wouldn’t be involved in that last final week,” he said.
“We were going away on tour to South Africa. I don’t think I would have been in the squad, so I said would it be possible to spend some time away? Gregor was nice enough to say yeah, go and spend some time with your family.”
Watson captained Scotland on the 2022 summer tour to Argentina and said he would jump at the chance of touring again this summer, but accepts Townsend may have other plans for the games against Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay.
“If I ever get the option to play for Scotland I would take it up,” he said.
“I think it’s up in the air at the moment. I don’t think Gregor knows exactly what sort of squad he’ll want to take.
“It’s probably one of those tours that might be a bit more of a development tour, so I don’t know whether he’ll be taking many of the older lads.”
Watson was at the club when Edinburgh reached the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup – as it was known then – in 2012, while he played in the 2015 Challenge Cup final defeat to Gloucester.
Having signed up for a 14th season, Watson now has his eyes set on finally lifting a trophy with Edinburgh.
He added: “We’ve never won anything. The closest we came was in
2015 when we went to that final at the Stoop and lost to Gloucester.
“Every player wants to win something, but it’s one thing saying it and another doing it.
“I definitely think we’ve got the squad to do it, we’ve got everything in place to do it, but sometimes we need to actually get things done as well.”
Watson knows this weekend’s clash with Bayonne –who have been poor on the road this campaign – represents a great opportunity to reach the
Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
He is not taking anything for granted against a side that could feature Wallabies back Reece Hodge, ex-France fly-half Camille Lopez and former hot-stepping Newcastle wing Mateo Carreras.
Watson continued: “You never know what you’re going to get with a French team. They’ve got a lot of really good individuals, they’re a big forward pack and it’s going to be a tough game. “They’ve fallen down from the Champions Cup and once they get to knockout rugby, they normally take it pretty seriously, so we’re still expecting a really tough challenge.”
Meanwhile, head coach Everitt was delighted to have Watson commit his future to the club.
“We’re very pleased that he’s signed a new deal. He must be in the form of his life for Edinburgh at the moment.” he said. “The amount of effort he puts into a game, and how he puts his body on the line, is certainly an example to all the youngsters at our club.
“He’s a really good example to have around the club as to what hard work stands for.”