HITTING THE SPOT
Skinner raises a toast to making impression for Scots
SAM SKINNER had the perfect drink to toast his call-up to Scotland’s World Cup training squad. Perhaps surprisingly, it wasn’t whisky but a Devon cider he helped create from orchard to glass in aid of charity.
One can only assume that, as Gregor Townsend’s men gear up for their first warm-up clash against France on Saturday night in Nice, Skinner and Co have been laying off the alcohol.
But, should there be reason for cheer over the next couple of months, then the Scots may well turn to the ‘Rib Tickler’ cider that was the brainchild of Skinner and his Exeter Chiefs team-mates.
Aided and abetted by Craig Townsend — brother of Scotland head coach Gregor — who is the development manager of the Rugby Players’ Association, the group were encouraged by Sandford Orchards to create, produce and market their own cider.
The drink was launched in May and has already raised a fourfigure sum for their chosen charities, the Exeter Chiefs Foundation and Wooden Spoon.
‘Rugby is a short career and we’re trying to develop ourselves personally through this,’ explained 24-year-old Skinner, who has a first-class degree in business and economics from Exeter University. ‘We saw a great opportunity to work with Sandford Orchards, who are a brilliant company, and we launched “Rib Tickler” at the Exeter Food Festival. My fellow rugby players Sam Simmonds, Jonny Hill, Phil Dollman, Toby Salmon, James Freeman and Pete Laverick are also all involved.
‘We went to the Sandford Orchards in Devon, picked the apples, tasted the apples, worked on the blend, designed the branding and set up events for the launch. We were tasting the type of ciders we wanted and picked one that is quite strong, five-per-cent alcohol and two-per-cent natural apple juice. It still has a little bit of sweetness to it but still has that organic, natural taste.
‘I am going to speak to some of the gastro pubs in Edinburgh to try and get it in there and also Hoggy (Stuart Hogg) has a few bars and I will speak to him about getting it in there, too, and get it going in Scotland a bit.’
While the cider-making has been a welcome project off the field, Skinner’s focus is now firmly on the business of making an impression in Scotland’s four warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.
Along with winger Darcy Graham, the versatile forward has made quite the impression over the past 12 months and it would be a major shock if he didn’t make Townsend’s 31-strong World Cup squad for Japan.
First and foremost a lock, he started in the back row in his second cap against South Africa at Murrayfield last November, with the Scotland boss seeing him as being able to cover both positions.
‘It wasn’t before Scotland played me at six that Exeter started playing me at six as well,’ said Skinner. ‘It is the way it went on to work with the Exeter squad for the rest of last season and I played in both positions for my club after that.
‘I am pushing at the minute for the second-row position with Scotland but I definitely enjoy both roles and I enjoy the freedom I get when I go into the back row. Most of my strengths are in the second row but obviously I am happy to play wherever if selected. It is something that I have got that obviously helps as I push for a World Cup spot.’
Out of the five locks in World Cup contention — Ben Toolis, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray and Scott Cummings being the others — he is the only one that can move back in the scrum. But it had to be pointed out by
Sportsmail that Townsend had made clear that one of the four locks he takes to the World Cup must be versatile enough to play in the back row, as well.
‘I really didn’t know that,’ added Skinner. ‘When you go to the World Cup, you need players who adapt and play in different positions. It helps but, ultimately, I am pushing as I said for that second-row spot. I don’t want to be a player who sits on the fringes and is happy to be brought in whenever. I want to be involved. I will try and not be a jack of all trades. I will try and be a master of one if I can.
‘We have five second rows in the squad at the moment and the other four are top quality second rows all starting for their clubs. They all offer something different as well and, because of the quality, it pushes you hard during training and you are never comfortable.
‘Also you know that at some point one of you won’t be able to make it to Japan and that is the challenge ahead of us all and one of the difficulties that comes with professional rugby.’
Taking part in his first World Cup would be a dream come true and he will find out on Tuesday, September 3 — three days after Scotland’s game against Georgia in Tbilisi — if he has made the final squad for Japan.
‘At the start of last season if you told me this was how the season was going to go, I would have bitten your hand off,’ said Skinner. ‘When I look back on it I feel very lucky and fortunate to have played the part I have, both for Exeter and for Scotland. Once you are in the mix, you want to keep pressing. I tend not to look too far ahead but I do feel fortunate to be part of it at the minute.’
At club level, he is looking forward to having Hogg at Exeter Chiefs next season after his move from Glasgow Warriors.
‘We had a few chats but I think his heart was pretty much set on signing for us early on,’ said Skinner. ‘It is a great signing for us and we look forward to having him. Just now, though, all our thoughts are with Scotland and looking forward to our next game against France.’