The World is enough for Watson
Ensuring a clear run to France 2023 is why Scotland star stayed at Edinburgh despite attractive offers from big clubs
HAMISH WATSON is at the peak of his powers and had the biggest clubs in Europe batting their eyes at him. But it was the dark blue jersey of Scotland that was foremost in his mind when he decided to commit to another three years with Edinburgh.
Watson feels he has unfinished business at the World Cup after his 2019 tournament was ended abruptly by a serious knee injury.
The No7 believes staying at Edinburgh within the SRU umbrella will give him the best chance of making an impact at the 2023 World Cup in France.
Watson narrowly missed out on selection for the 2015 tournament and, four years later in Japan, he fared little better, exiting the field on a medical buggy after just 38 minutes of Scotland’s opening defeat against Ireland.
‘The next World Cup comes into my thinking,’ said 36-time capped Watson. ‘If I went to France I may have had to give up international stuff... that’s a massive factor.
‘To be at Edinburgh, it gives me a great chance to hopefully make the next World Cup.
‘The last World Cup was pretty devastating for me in Japan. I was involved in the 2015 pre-World Cup stuff, the Tests before we went away, and didn’t make the squad. I’ve been there or thereabouts the last two World Cups and only got one appearance. If I would have gone away, I might not have made the next Scotland World Cup squad.
‘With staying at my union, if I am playing well for Edinburgh, I will hopefully get picked for the national team. If that is the case then you do tend to get looked after by your union which does help especially in long seasons like the one we’re having, playing in double competitions, with the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup. Those little weekends off during the Six Nations do help.
‘I guess some players, if they get those offers and take them, then that is the risk they take. You will go to France or England and you know you are not going to get looked after quite as well.’
Watson revealed the long-term commitment given by Richard Cockerill to Edinburgh also convinced him to sign the contract extension that could see him end his career at the club.
The world-class flanker had approaches from top English and French clubs that he refuses to name until the SRU, who fund both Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, came up with an outstanding offer over the festive period that helped convince him to stay.
The fact that big spending Racing 92, who have the likes of Finn Russell and Simon Zebo in their ranks, didn’t even make his short list of possible destinations shows how many top clubs were in for him and how competitive an offer Edinburgh made to keep him.
‘There were a number of clubs interested but it would be pretty unprofessional to say exactly which clubs were and weren’t interested, but there were clubs out there interested,’ said the Scotland international, who has already spent a decade at the capital club.
‘We got to quite far down the line with discussions and talking to the people you need to talk to when you’re going to do stuff like that.
‘I don’t know where the Racing 92 thing came from but put it this way, that wasn’t one of the clubs that got to later stages of negotiations. There were a few murmurs early on going way back but that wasn’t one of the main clubs. ‘In the end, I’m just happy that we got it done with Edinburgh. They offered me a contract when they heard there was interest out there and we got it done which I’m really excited about.
‘Was Cockerill (below) a major factor in staying? Yeah, definitely. You want continuity in any sort of business or work environment and it’s exactly the same in pro sport. ‘You want the same players there as long as they’re doing well, continuity in the players base because then you get to know people and it is exactly the same in the coaching staff. For the first time in my career, Cockers has been here three-and-a-half years and after another year-and-ahalf, that will be the longest I’ve worked with a coach for.
‘It does come into play. You ask about other signings, who we might be bringing in, all that sort of stuff, and it’s all pointing in the right direction for Edinburgh.’
Watson said he wasn’t tempted to leave even when he heard that Scotland international winger Duhan van der Merwe would be leaving Edinburgh at the end of the season to join Worcester Warriors.
‘Duhan is a great player, a good friend of mine and everyone knows how good he is but you can’t keep everyone,’ he said. ‘From what I’ve heard, Edinburgh put a good offer down and really tried to keep him but unfortunately for whatever reason they couldn’t get the deal done.
‘It is a tough one because we all know how destructive and good he’s been on the park. I have shown Edinburgh really good loyalty over the years and they’ve repaid their faith and it’s up to me over the next three years to prove myself again and hopefully get to the business end of competitions and start winning stuff.
‘There are loads of young players here and the future looks good. We’ve got lots of young props coming through, good back-three, positions all over the park. I think the Scottish academy system looks pretty strong.
‘It’s really promising for the club. These seasons are getting tougher with a lot of travel and going forward, but we’ll have the ability to rest more.’
If I went to France I may have had to give up international stuff ... that’s massive to me