Watch Out For Me In Future

There was a suggestion that Neil Cochrane would have to join a Glasgow club when he started at Glasgow Caledonian University last autumn. Having played against GHK in a pre-season game Neil thought seriously about joining them whilst he was studying in Glasgow. In the end though the pull of Boroughmuir was too strong for the former Boroughmuir High Under18 pupil and he travels across the M8 several times a week to train and play for his only club.

Although the Scotland Under 19 regular first played rugby in Primary 5, football was more to Neil’s tastes until he was in 3^rd year at Boroughmuir High Under18. It wasn’t until he came under the influence of George Watson and Ian Thom at Under18 that he really took to rugby. From there his rise has been meteoric.

At Under 16 level Neil moved through the Pathways system to represent his country for the first time. After time out with an ankle injury he repeated the feat at Under18 level, becoming a regular in the National Under18 side. This season he has continued his impressive form and having competed in the Under 19 equivalent of the Six Nations he is off to France for the F.I.R.A Under 19 World Championships.

During his first year’s rugby at Under18 rugby Neil played at centre but it wasn’t long before his blend of speed and agression saw him moved to the back row. His favourite position is “definitely openside flanker”.

Despite his run of success with the national teams Neil can still remember how he felt when he was first selected “I was very surprised when I got my letter, it was just overwhelming” he said, “It’s always a great honour to be selected to represent your country, but after a long lay-off with injury it was even more of a surprise. I remember looking forward to the challenge of playing International rugby”.

This season at Boroughmuir has seen Neil develop from an Under18 player into a regular with the 2^nd XV. In the recent cup replay against Stirling County he made his competetive debut for the 1^st XV, coming on as a replacement prop. “It was quite a challenge to go on as a loose head prop, even though it was uncontested scrums” he commented. “I was glad to get on but it would have been nice to get a bit longer in my own position”. The loudest cheer of the day came from the admiring female contingent in the main stand as Neil ran on to make his first full appearance.

He enjoyed the playing experience and was made to feel a part of the team – “The players treated me very well, particularly Nessie in the warm-up. The coaches were great too. Sean just said ‘go ahead and enjoy it, the same as in practice’”.

Despite being an age-group international Neil found the step up to senior rugby a challenge, “My first game for the 2^nd team was against Melrose and I found it very physical” he admitted. But he went on “As the games have gone on through the season I’ve come to terms with the pace of the game and the physical barriers that are there.” He then gave his characteristic cheeky grin and declared “I’m enjoying it”.

Always hungry to progress, Neil is looking to impress the coaches during the next pre-season. “Hopefully I can show them what I can do” he said, confirming that he is targeting a breakthrough to first XV level next season. After that, professional rugby is the longer term target “I was in the Academy for the Gunners. Hopefully next year if I can establish myself in the 1^st XV then I could be looking at the back-up squad.” Realistically he admits “I’ll just take it in stages”.

So does the rising star have the stamina and commitment to go all the way for club and country? “The hardest part at the moment is being at University” he said, “I’ve cut down on the University life, going out drinking and that. At the start I said to myself – right, let’s just concentrate on the rugby – and with all the travelling back and forth to Glasgow I’m too tired to go out by the time I get home. I enjoy University life but rugby is a full time commitment with plenty of hard work”.

A number of people have influenced his young rugby life so far “There was Mr Watson of course, he’s a great coach, and Ian Thom. I also like Alan Tait. He came down and worked with the Under18 national squad in Leeds last year. I always admire Neil Back as well, because I’m roughly the same height as him and he was told he wassn’t big enough for international rugby.”

Does rubgy get in the way of the rest of Neil’s life? “Yeah, I suppose so” he confirmed, “I find that everything revolves around rugby in my life. I have training Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, a game on Saturday and then I go to the Scotland set-up on a Sunday so …”

And it could all have been so different. The talented youngster is also an age grade international at cricket. He has represented Scotland all the way from Under 13 to Under 19 “But I think that’s where it will stop” he told me “I’ll concentrate on my rugby”.

So, one final message from a talented young player with the determination and commitment to go along way “Just watch out for me in future”.