Fergus Cato is a fourth year maths and economics student who has played every year of his University rugby career as part of the 1st XV: an impressive feat. He has played the majority of his university rugby at hooker, but has more recently deployed in the back row despite maintaining lineout throwing responsibilities. This season he has the privilege to captain the 1st XV, a natural choice for mens coach Dave Morris due to his leadership skills on and off the pitch.
I sat down for a coffee with Ferg (standing on the left) on Wednesday before the game against Northumbria and asked him some questions.
One big talking point from before the game was the 3 freshers who were set to start: David Brown at loosehead prop, Jamie Thomson at fullback and Oliver Finlayson-Russell at number 8. David and Jamie were winners of the Scottish Cup with Watsons College, and Oliver captained the Edinburgh Academy 1st XV in his final year. All three of them were part of Edinburgh Rugby’s regional academy. These boys are serious talents, and it’s going to be very interesting to see how they adapt to University rugby.
Ferg told me he was immensely excited to play alongside the freshers, saying that they are starting because of their outstanding performances throughout pre-season. He also reflected that it shows the level of trust that this team has built in such a short space of time, with everyone trusting each other to put their body on the line for the team. In my mind this is a product of the welcoming environment throughout pre-season.
Other players Ferg was excited to see in game were Joe Van Hoffen, starting in the second row, who has just returned from a semester in Morocco and shook Durham with physicality last week in the 50 point victory. I too am excited to watch Joe play after Ferg described him as a ‘different animal’. He also mentioned James Murray, a masters student from South Africa who will move between outside centre and winger during the game. Ferg was particularly impressed by his exhaustive work rate in training.
I also asked Ferg about how the team was looking to play style wise.
He told me that Northumbria were a serious outfit, winning the league last season and beating St Andrews twice in the process, relying on imposing physicality and a direct play style. However, St Andrews managed to beat them 38-34 in the cup, so Ferg knew that this team is far from invincible. Ferg says the team have a simple game plan: be direct early on and match their physicality, letting the exciting half back paring of Campbell Swanson and Chris Schreuder decide when to pull the trigger and get an electric group of backs into the game.
I left my conversation with Ferg feeling that he was confident in the boys to go out and beat Northumbria. Having been around the team during a pre-season full of hard work, where just merely blowing off the cobwebs led quickly to serious and tangible player development, I had no doubts that the boys were ready for this test. With the Varsity game against Edinburgh University on the horizon there will definitely be some extra edge from the boys to standout, get their name on that team sheet and play in this prestigious fixture in front of what promises to be a packed Hive Stadium.