Young Gun

After a season of getting to grips with a whole new level of play, Boroughmuir’s Under-18 side, led by captain Ross Young, have got back to their winning ways as they were crowned champions of the Edinburgh District League. Ross, who was drafted in as captain after Scott Wilson suffered a bad injury against Royal High has been delighted with the progress that the side has made in the step up to U-18 rugby. “Last year we were really just an U-17 side with only a few guys who were at the older level. So considering that I think we did reasonably well. We were obviously disappointed not to qualify but we held our own and it was definitely good preparation for this year. We knew what was required to compete with the top teams and we made every effort we could to get here.”

Despite his success so far, it wasn’t until his second year at high Under18 that Ross took up the game. “My guidance teacher at Under18 is Iain Snedden and he brought me to rugby. He brought me up here because obviously his son Richard was here. So he took me along and introduced me to Sandy Dundas who was the coach. Sandy was really good to me, he was really up front. And all the boys kind of took to me as well, it was a really good group. All the guys just sort of took me in and were really friendly.” Since then, the prop has represented Edinburgh at both U-15 and U-16 and through the integrated Under18s set up whilst this year moving on into the U-18 side.

He may have joined the Boroughmuir set-up late, but such is the team spirit within the current U-18 squad, that Ross immediately felt at home. “They’re a good group of guys who are really easy to get on with. As I said, they included me straight off and I never had any doubts. They’ve been playing together for a long time now and they socialise outside of the rugby so they’re really close knit. Everyone brings a bit of banter to the team and it’s really good fun.”

Although happy with captaining both Boroughmuir at club and Under18, Ross has higher ambitions for his rugby career. “I think like everyone at my age, I’d like to have my sights set on a pro contract at least and I’d love to go on to the Scotland squad but that’s for the future, I’m just concentrating on Boroughmuir for the moment. We’ve got Ayr in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup. We’ve got to pick up the pace for that one as our aim has to be to win the competition. There are no excuses, we’ve got some very talented boys, especially for the level we’re playing at and we should be aiming high.”

Whilst no doubt still concentrating on success with Boroughmuir, Ross was selected for the National Under18 Training Camp over Christmas.

The success that the side has found throughout the age groups is, according to Ross, firmly planted in the spirit that exists amongst the boys. “Greig Scott is a huge character in the team and Scott Wilson brings a lot of banter. There’s rarely a weekend that goes by without the boys getting together, even if there’s no rugby. Even I meet up with them despite living quite far away. Everyone just really gets on and I think that is part of why we’ve done well.”

The youngster has a lot of faith in his coaches as well. “Sandy’s a really good guy. He’s a great laugh but he knows where the line is. He does the rugby side really well as well. As for Mr (George) Watson. He’s a really good coach. He’s good personally with me because obviously he’s a forward and he brings out the hard and physical side of you. He’s got a lot of knowledge about the game, he knows his stuff and he’s a Under18teacher so you’ve got to be nice to him. He brings out the best in the guys. I think they work well together, I think they’re a good match.”

Having been rewarded for his work with the role of captain, Ross takes the responsibilities placed upon him seriously. “As captain, I try to make a good example for the boys in terms of discipline and stuff like that. On the park I try to be as vocal as I can. I just try to lead by example, try to take on as much ball as I can and get around the park.” But his duties don’t stop once the game is over. “I try to make sure that guys come down to training and stuff like that. That they bring as many people as possible. I’ve also been included in several discussions about where we were going to play guys if they were going to play out of position for a change or something like that. Sandy and George usually have a wee word with me about things like that.”

Luckily for the club, Ross has no intentions to ply his trade elsewhere, in the short term at least. “I’d love to stay at Boroughmuir, I’d find it hard to go anywhere else. Unless I get a pro contract or something like that, I’d really love to stay and work my way up the club.”

With such an impressive team of young players coming through the ranks at the club, it’s not hard to see where the next batch of players for the senior teams will come from. Many of them have been called upon for representative honours and if they keep moving forward, it won’t be long before they’ll be putting pressure on those ahead of them.

And, a final message for his boys before the cup game. “Just everybody be prepared to go there and do the best you can. Give 110% and be ready to work for each other. If we want to get to the Scottish Cup final then we’ve got to work for it. Everybody’s got to do their own bit and give their all.”

Well said.