WITH just three years between the two Fagerson boys, Zander and Matt, they were always going to grow up competing with each other. Now all those back garden games of football and touch rugby that always seemed to turn into full-contact rugby are paying dividends when they march out to play for Scotland for the first time together.
It will be a memorable occasion against the USA tomorrow not just for them. Alongside them will be Peter and George Horne – Peter, like Zander, now an established member of the Test squad; George, like Matt, winning his first cap.
“I’ve watched Matt growing up a lot,” observed Zander. “He’s developed into a pretty handy player. He’s a fantastic ball carrier, has really good footwork and has brought really strong defence. He’s an all-round package, an asset to any team. I’m enjoying playing with him.”
The admiration goes two ways: “I looked up to him,” added Matt. “I grew up as the younger brother of the bloke who was making the Under 20s squad when he was 17, making his Glasgow debut at 18 and his Scotland debut so young as well, especially for a prop.
“It was massive for me. I was very proud of him growing up. I’ve not tried to emulate him, but I wanted to follow in the same footsteps. He’s got more caps and more experience. I still have a lot to learn – as does he!”
There is at least one way where Matt will always have the bragging rights. He is still only 19 and his brother had to wait until he was 20 before winning his first cap. When he walks out at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, home to the city’s football club, Dynamo, Matt Fagerson will join Jonny Gray as the only teenage forward to be capped since Hamish Inglis in 1951.
The strange thing is that they both started on similar career paths before they took off in different directions. Both began in the back row at Strathmore rugby club, but Zander switched position and Matt didn’t.
“I couldn’t make it as a No.8 so I was told to eat. It’s worked out alright,” was Zander’s version of how it happened. “I’ve mananged to make a career playing tighthead.
“I used to hate all the scrum stuff. My old mates at Dundee High know I played one game at prop, got a sore neck, got absolutely smashed and I said ‘I’m never playing prop again’.
“They were there for my first cap, laughing their heads off. I’m enjoying it and I don’t think I could trim down enough to be a No.8.”
Those were the days when he was a keen mountain biker – another point where their paths and interests split.
“He came to one race,” recalled Zander. “We push all the way up – these bikes are pretty heavy, you push all the way to the top of this hill and you’re all ready to go. You [turning to Matt] come out of the start gate and banjo your knee.”
“Hit a rock and twisted my knee,” Matt admitted.
“Walked down or stretchered down?” Zander asked.
“Oh, I called the stretcher,” Matt replied.
“So you were stretchered down. I’m halfway down and I look around. ‘Where is he?’ All is can see is Dad coming down with the bike.” That was the end of Matt’s competitive mountain bike experience and another example of how their paths went separate ways.
On the whole, though they have followed remarkably similar routes. Both ended out at Strathallan School and signed for Glasgow Warriors pretty much straight from there and made their club debuts a few months later before going on to even bigger things. A true pair of early achievers.
“I’m just really looking forward to playing alongisde my brother,” said Zander. “It doesn’t matter if that’s grassroots or Scotland, every time I play with him it’s a privilege.
“I was nervous before my first cap [off the bench against England in 2016]. I think Matt had an Under 18 game but managed to sneak out; Mum and Dad [Gwendolyn and Jonathan] took him. It was a big step-up, it flew by quickly.”
Which is pretty much true to form; their parents have been hugely supportive of both brothers and the only tinge of regret is that they won’t be able to get out to Houston to see the game live, though cousins from Boston are expected to make the trek down.
“Mum’s at all the games. She’s there with Dad who’s screaming and she’s going ‘he’s not with me’,” Zander added. “They’re very supportive. I’m sure they’re immensely proud.”
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