It hasn’t been the smoothest path, and certainly not the easiest. But it’s one I feel deeply privileged to have walked.
Settling in: Nervous starts and new challenges
I arrived in Glasgow in December 2024, brought into the squad on a recommendation from someone I respect greatly, and I didn’t want to let them down. Driving up from Birmingham for that first training session was a journey in every sense – physically, mentally, emotionally. I was excited, but I was also nervous. I knew I was joining the team late and would need to make up ground quickly.
That first session at Ravenscraig was fast, physical, and a little overwhelming. I struggled to get to grips with the structures and calls, but I kept my head down and pushed through. Over the next few sessions, I began to settle in, find my voice, and reconnect with some familiar faces from my Watsonians days. I reminded myself: this is where I’m meant to be.
The highs and lows of selection
I trained hard in the run-up to our opening match against Edinburgh. I believed I was putting myself in contention, so when I wasn’t named in the matchday squad, it stung. That Friday night at the Hive Stadium was bitterly cold in more ways than one. Watching the team lose 63–15 only made the disappointment sharper – I felt I could have made a difference.
When the call finally came for our second match against the Irish Wolfhounds, I was ready. The whole trip – early start, ferry crossing, match prep – was everything I’d dreamed of. I got 20 minutes off the bench and made the most of every second. The scrums felt strong, our defence tightened, and I walked off the pitch with Cap No.53, proud and hungry for more.
But it wasn’t all upward momentum. The next week in Cardiff against Gwalia Lightning, I didn’t get on the pitch at all. Five of us sat on the bench for 80 minutes in what turned out to be one of the most painful losses of the season. No explanation from the coaches, no chance to prove ourselves. That one was hard to process.
Injuries, setbacks, and persistence
Just as I was finally named as a starter, the weather intervened. A storm cancelled our match, and training turned more intense. That’s when I injured my neck, another setback just as I was beginning to build momentum.
The next few weeks were a cycle of frustration and rehab. Watching from the sidelines while you know you’ve earned a spot is never easy. But with support from the physios, the S&C team, and the Royal Navy’s elite athlete pathway, I kept going. Slowly, I returned to form – first light skills, then gym work, and eventually full training again.
Moving forward: Tigers, trials, and total commitment
Now that the Celtic Challenge has wrapped up, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved this season. I’ve played against top opposition, developed my game, and proved I can compete at this level. Off the back of those performances, I’ve been offered a further year with Leicester Tigers – a huge milestone in my playing career.
This opportunity has been made possible by the unwavering support of the Royal Navy, whose elite athlete pathway has allowed me to balance my military duties with professional sport. Representing the Navy while playing top-flight rugby in both England and Scotland is something I’ll never take for granted.
I’m more determined than ever. My goal remains the same: to earn a Scotland cap. I know the path isn’t easy, and competition is fierce, but I’m willing to give everything I’ve got. The Celtic Challenge was the start of something special, and I’m proud to be moving into the next phase with confidence, experience, and a renewed hunger to keep climbing.
Every cap, every session, every disappointment and every comeback has made this journey what it is. And I know the best is yet to come.
