On Tuesday afternoon I sat down with Saints 1stXV player and Varsity legend Sam Wright to ask him a few questions before the big game on Saturday Afternoon. Sam is a postgraduate student who is about to play in his 5th Varsity Match, starting at tighthead prop (number 3), which is a true testament to the caliber of player he is.
What got you into rugby and what keeps you motivated on a day-to-day basis to play such a physically and mentally demanding sport? “My mate at the age of 5 kept getting sent down to the local rugby club because he was getting in trouble and my parents sort of assumed I was the same, so they sent me down with him and I quickly fell in love with the game. As for what keeps me going, probably some sort of weird addiction more than anything, I love the physicality. I also love the camaraderie, I think if I wasn’t in uni rugby environment I don’t think I’d have stuck with it, I think the specifics of being in the uni environment, the mates you have, the way it defines and shapes your existence appeals to me.” What advice would you give to those beginning rugby at university and to those starting in their first game?
“Don’t do it by halves, if you have the opportunity to get involved, especially if you completely new to the sport, especially if you’re new to it at a uni environment, you know I coached the women for a couple years and I saw some players who had never touched the field before uni who turn into competent rugby players, I think the biggest difference is that those who really throw themselves into the sport and commit early on find more success regardless of natural skill. The contact and the physical nature of it mean you can’t really do it by halves. Rather than thinking this is something I causally go and do on a Wednesday, I think throwing yourself into every element of it will help greatly, particularly the social aspect rugby, that is the biggest appeal particularly if you’ve never played before you’re not going to be walking into a performance environment, you’re going to be walking into a more casual environment, so engaging on the social side is massive to help you get into the sport.” How have you been able to deal with the pressure of playing in 4 varsity fixtures?“I’ve never really felt too much in terms of pressure, a big part of that is I’m not a decision maker as such, I’m not making those split-second micro calls that influence how my team is playing the game. I’ve got a pretty simple job ultimately: scrummage, lineout, tackle, carry, there is nothing too complex in there which always helps. I’ve played in a lot of big environments at university and a lot of big environments while I was at school as well, so I think more than anything you have to be calm for the group, especially when your more of a veteran guy, even if you’re not calm you have to give an image of being calm.” Have yourself and the team prepped any differently to last year and if so how?“Massively differently. From a personal perspective I was coming off a rotator cuff surgery, so I only had a week of full training before the game last year, whereas this year I’ve been bouncing up and down between here and Loughborough for preseasons so I’ve had like a 12 week preseason, so in terms of the shape I am in it is kind of a different ball game.” “Similarly the team has had a much better preparation, obviously a lot of new boys coming in which helps to drive standards, when new boys come in and they are particularly good it really does boost how the returners play and how much drive they have in terms of fitness, and Dan, the new strength and conditioning coach has been a massive part of that, really caning everyone a little bit and getting them in better shape than we were last year. Generally, a much better prep this year, largely because of having more guys early on this pre-season which pushed development.” Do you feel as though there is more anticipation surrounding the fixture this year than last year because it is being held at the Hive?“Yeh, I think people care more, I think definitely amongst the playing group people are more excited about it. You know, ultimately it is a major stadium, it a place that, especially for guys from Edinburgh, they will have gone and watched rugby matches there, played there in Scottish Schools finals, the stadium has a lot of emotional weight for many of the boys, which has definitely increased the anticipation amongst the group.” After last years close loss do you feel as though there is revenge to be taken? “I think there is a lot of competing things, there is obviously a little bit of revenge, I think we were probably hoping to prove something, you know especially around Edinburgh’s deal with Edinburgh rugby, we’re hoping to prove something around our spot in the Scottish rugby world. And, you know, at the end of the day we’re a tiny university compared to Edinburgh, we punch way above our weight in terms of rugby, so actually there is a bit of underdog to us and this fixture as well. So yes, it is revenge, but there are a bunch of other emotional factors playing into the build-up to this fixture as well.” What is your varsity highlight?“Making my debut was pretty cool in Murrayfield was pretty cool… even if it was like 50 something to nil at the time, that was a weird day full of mixed emotions. Maybe winning in 3rd year, the first home one that I played in, post Covid, that was pretty incredible. We came in at the half and I think we were actually down but we kind of all knew we were going to win, which was quite a powerful feeling. “But I’ll have to go with the stereotype for a prop, in 4th year away at Edinburgh, it was in the 75th minute and we had a 10 point advantage or so, and we had a scrum 5 metres out from their line, and I think everyone knew what was going to happen, and they knew the end of the game was there, so for me that was a big moment personally, winning off the back of a set piece dominant game, to be honest seeing JP lift the cup up in Edinburgh at Peffermill – it felt like we had done a bit of a smash and grab.”
When I met Sam at preseason, I was immediately struck by how he just quietly goes about his business for someone so gifted, getting the work done on the pitch and in the gym with an air of professionalism. Additionally, although he jokes about not being a proper decision maker for this team, he has an immense depth of rugby knowledge – a product of his veteran status – which shows on the pitch and is invaluable to this team. He is always in the right place when you need him. Sam is also a real leader in this group, with an amazingly level head and ability to give clear and concise feedback to his teammates in short snatches. He also is a great motivator around the squad, pushing people beyond their limits to reach a higher level of performance. Look out for Sam on the pitch at the Hive this Saturday, leading the Saints attack on the Edinburgh set piece and providing crucial stability on both sides of the ball when the team needs it. Victory at the Hive will see him winning a third Varsity cup – a feat that will distinguish him amongst Saints rugby legends.
