Lang relieved to learn identity of new Edinburgh coach
IT’S a player’s worst nightmare. The coach who signed you leaves a week before you are due to join your new club and you have no idea who is taking over.
That was the situation new Edinburgh signing James Lang found himself in — even before he had moved into his rented flat in the Stockbridge area of the city.
Initially, he thought it was a ‘no-brainer’ to leave English Premiership champions Harlequins to come north but now he was worried what the future held as he had already put pen to paper.
‘I won’t lie, when Richard Cockerill left I didn’t know who was coming in and I was a little bit agitated and it was panic stations,’ said the Scotland international.
‘You sign for a club, for a coach, and then that coach leaves.
‘What if the next coach comes in and, you know, I’m not part of his plans or he doesn’t like me? That all went through my mind.
‘I immediately messaged my agent and said, “Mate, do something! Try and find out who is coming in.” He didn’t get back to me!’
Thankfully for Lang, the man who did take over was former Scotland assistant head coach Mike Blair, who has worked with Lang at international level and who highly rates the man he did not sign.
‘When it got announced who was coming in it was a weight lifted,’ said Lang. ‘I was relieved. Mike got the position and I dropped him a message straight away.
‘I got on well with Mike with Scotland and after that I was buzzing to get started with Edinburgh. Under his coaching style, the team and myself will really thrive.’
Moving to Edinburgh from Harlequins was a decision Lang did not take lightly, but he decided to make the change to get more game time which he hopes will improve his chances of adding to his six Scotland caps.
‘When I was speaking to Richard Cockerill at the time about signing it was around the Autumn Nations Cup last year and I had a couple of meetings up here,’ he said.
‘I spoke to Gregor Townsend, got his advice, and it was important for me to keep Quins in the loop as well. I didn’t want to burn bridges there, so I didn’t decide anything during that time in the Autumn Nations Cup.
‘But when I got back to Quins, I had the chance to speak to Richard again and I made my decision. It was definitely the right one, it was a no-brainer.
‘I had been comfortable at Quins and when you enjoy your time somewhere it is hard to leave, but it was the right decision.
‘I know to play for Scotland I have to play for my club. I want that to happen and that was a massive factor about leaving. I want to work my way into the team and this is the place for me to do it.’