Crosbie’s unlikely rise an inspiration

Edinburgh back row has hopes for Six Nations

SCOTLAND international Luke Crosbie is hoping his route to the top will inspire youngsters with no family or school links with rugby to take up the game. Unlike many of the other members of the Scotland Six Nations squad that only qualify through residency or their grandparents, the Edinburgh back row forward learned his trade here from grassroots level up.

Crosbie came from a football family that happened to stumble across a rugby game going on at Livingston Rugby Club that sparked his interest.

‘I moved to Mid Calder where I played football but one day I was out for a walk with my dad and we stumbled across Livingston Rugby Club and there was a senior game on,’ said the man who has been rested from club duty this weekend on orders of Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.

‘I didn’t really know what it was and my dad didn’t really know much about rugby. He used to watch the Scotland games but in terms of him growing up in North Lanarkshire and the Uddingston area, there wasn’t much there.

‘I saw it and said I wanted to give it a try because it looks fun and that was it. From there, mum and dad were straight on the computer trying to find the number for Livingston Rugby Club and they phoned up to say I’m coming along to training and that was it. I think it was primary 5 that I started.

‘From my experience, I would say that rugby is for everyone. There are so many different characters of player and so many different positions you can play. You’ve got wingers who are fast, guys in the front row who are big and strong.

‘So in terms of a dynamic you can apply your attributes to the right position. Everyone is welcome to come and play the game. It’s important for me to keep in contact with Livingston to make sure they’re still getting some exposure to rugby.

‘The reality is there are a lot more rules than football so it’s about getting people engaged, learning it and enjoying it. It can be great fun and the friends that you make are friends for life.’

Crosbie has Livingston and Currie rugby clubs to thank for his development which helped him win a contract with Edinburgh back in 2017 and three caps to date for Scotland. He wants more and is desperate to be involved in the Six Nations opener against England but knows competition is tough.

‘A young me wouldn’t have believed he would go on to play for Scotland,’ said Crosbie. ‘It’s mad to see. It’s a long journey when I look back. The process of getting here has meant I’ve had to perform when the opportunities came around.

‘I’ve had to do it every week, and that’s the reason I’ve got to here and made it as a professional. The mindset is the same for me. I need to perform well and back it up every single week.

‘My roots are important to me and it is great when you go back to Currie and Livingston and see how much it inspires the kids. Currie is where I developed most of my game. I started playing rugby at Livingston and sometimes it was difficult when I was younger and didn’t go through the pathway.

‘If you come from Mid Calder where there’s not a rugby team and you go straight to an academy contract it can be difficult.

‘I always keep in touch and it was great to catch up with the young Livingston team after the Zebre game and it puts the game in perspective because that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about me, it’s about my family being able to see this. And these young guys can come along and actually see that you can make a living out of playing rugby which some people back home don’t even realise.’

Crosbie goes into the week of the England game in good form after winning back-to-back player of the month awards with Edinburgh.

He knows with Hamish Watson making his comeback for Edinburgh against Sharks and Andy Christie of Saracens playing well he has a fight on his hands to be involved in the Calcutta Cup clash but being rested this weekend on Towsend’s orders suggest he has a chance of being involved.

‘My background is why I’ve kept the mindset that I’ve got to keep working hard, be consistent and not be too emotional if I don’t get picked,’ he said

‘I can’t let it affect my training and when the opportunities do come I have to put in the work.

‘Obviously, it would mean a lot for me to play against England at Twickenham and especially for my family because they have watched me come right through. The past few years I’ve been in the squads, but maybe not been involved as much, so to be involved in a big game like that would mean a lot. I’d just want to go out there and enjoy it and display what I can do on one of the biggest stages.’

Crosbie, whose first Scotland cap came in a substitute’s appearance in the win over Tonga at BT Murrayfield in October 2021 has been talking with his Edinburgh coach Mike Blair and Townsend on how to improve his game heading into the Six Nations.

‘It was obviously frustrating in the autumn not to get a run out with Scotland when I was playing well, but that’s the game. International sport is tough and you aren’t always going to get those opportunities,’ he said.

‘I am just completely focused on my own game and pouring all my energy into training and working on what I could get better at, making the stuff I do world class and sticking to that.

‘In terms of the balance of a back-row, it is just about bringing my physical attributes and slowing the ball down, being a threat in defence and having that ability to put the team on the front foot.

‘For me, it is just about doing that consistently every week and making sure I am doing the best for the team.

‘In terms of the autumn Tests, I was in and out of camp, but I know myself I need to perform here in the Six Nations. I need to play well to get in the team and I need to do that consistently to earn a shot.’