Fagerson reflects on his school of hard knocks en route to the top with Scotland
Prop endured roller-coaster start to life in the game but will now earn cap No.50
AHEAD of picking up his 50th Scotland cap in tonight’s summer test series decider against Argentina in Santiago, tight-head prop Zander Fagerson took a few moments to reflect on the important role that one the great characters of the amateur game in this country had in creating the player he is today.
Lindsay Norman Ross managed a few appearances in the back-row for Stewart’s Melville in the 1980s, but by the time he crossed swords with the teenage Fagerson about nine years ago he had graduated to the front-row union and was playing for the club’s second XV against Glasgow Hawks at Lochinch, the Scottish Police sports ground in the southside of Glasgow.
“It is still, to this day, the hardest game I’ve played,” claimed Fagerson. “He bent me over backwards a few times in the scrum and I had no answer.
“Jimmy Sinclair [Hawks’ veteran coach] gave it to me both barrels afterwards, saying it wasn’t good enough.”
At this stage, it was far from obvious that Fagerson would have any sort of future in professional rugby, never mind go on to pick up 50 caps.
“I was fresh out of school. I didn’t get into the Institute of Sport. I didn’t get into the academy.
“So, I was at college in Glasgow, playing for Hawks on a Saturday and doing some age-grade stuff during the week,” he recalls.
“And that match probably put a bit of doubt in my mind – probably more for my girlfriend, now wife, who had to watch it – but fortunately I can look back now and say it was a great learning experience.
“You learn to enjoy those experiences because you know you can get better. But hopefully it never happens again.”
“Someone actually put me in touch with him recently and I sent a message saying: ‘Thanks for that hiding it boded quite well for me’.”
Remarkably, Fagerson went on to make his
Glasgow Warriors debut just a few months later, but that transition didn’t click immediately into place either, with his fourth appearance and first start for the pro side ending in ignominy when he endured such a torrid time against the Scarlets that he had to be replaced before half-time.
“I’ve had a few lulls in my career and I think that Scarlets game especially was one of the lower points,” he acknowledges. “But, like I said before, the tough games are when you learn the most.
“I’d definitely say that experience put the bit between my teeth and drove me to keep pushing on and get better to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Touch wood, I’ve not been taken off before halftime since then, so it is going alright... but never say never!”
Within 18 months, Fagerson had become a full Scotland cap, making his debut off the bench against England during the 2016 Six Nations just 18 days after his 20th birthday, and to now be on the precipice of bringing up his half century at the age of 26 is a remarkable achievement given that he plays a position in which proponents tend not to come into their prime until they are bearing down on their 30th birthday.
On the basis that Fagerson could easily have another 10 years left at the top of the game if he stays away from injury, there is no reason to doubt that he will reach the century mark and very possibly go on to become the nation’s most capped player – but he is not looking that far ahead at the moment.
“To play once for Scotland was a dream come true and it’s not really sunk in yet that I am now playing my 50th,” he reflects. “It has a lot to do with my family, and all those late nights being driven to and from training and games all over Scotland and the UK by my mum and dad. This is huge milestone in my life and one that I am very proud of.
“But I still think I’ve got a lot of room to grow – I’m not the finished article – and I’m looking forward to working hard over the next few years because I’m sure I can improve,” he adds.
“Scrummaging is a thing that I don’t think you ever really master so it’s just about having more consistency going forward and hopefully
adding a few tricks to my bag.”
Needless to say, Fagerson is delighted that he will share the occasion with his younger brother, Matt, who is at No.8 tonight and one of the form players in the Scotland team at the moment.
“He has been unbelievable this season, especially in that England win at the start of the Six Nations when he was awesome,” says the proud older sibling. “His injury came at a bad time, but I am happy to see him enjoy his rugby again on this tour. I love playing with him and he spurs me on.”
If Scotland are to clinch the series tonight, they will need both brothers to be at their rambunctious best.
It is still the hardest game I’ve played. He bent me over backwards a few times in the scrum