SAM THOMSON had more than most to consider when pondering his move to Edinburgh Rugby.
The 25-year-old second-row had been on Glasgow Warriors books for a short time in 2016 but had spent the past three years of his career in Australia playing for Greater Sydney Rams, NSW Country, Sydney and most recently, Warringah RC. And his stint down under meant that he was just a few months away from becoming eligible to play for the Australian national team.
Given the circumstances, the plan was not, admits Thomson, to return to his homeland. But out of the blue, news reached him that Edinburgh were interested, with Scotland assistant coach Matt Taylor playing no small part in the developments.
“I put some highlights together and sent them off. I knew Matt Taylor from my time at Glasgow and he said he passed them around so, yeah, he jokes that he’s now my agent,” said Thomson.
“An agent got in touch with me and mentioned that Edinburgh were interested. I hadn’t really seen coming back as an option because I figured I was out of the picture but then they got in touch and within a couple of days I spoke to Cockers (head coach, Richard Cockerill) - he explained he wanted me back over and there was an opportunity there.”
Thomson admits that prior to Edinburgh expressing an interest his plan had been to get a Super Rugby contract and remain down under. But when the opportunity to sign for Edinburgh arose, he knew there was only one answer.
“This came up and it was an opportunity to move close to home and it was something I’d regret if I said no,” Thomson, who grew up in Glasgow, said.
“It came out of nowhere and I jumped at it.
“Within a few days I sorted it, signed and a week later I was back and straight into things.”
Thomson admits the decision wasn’t quite as hard as it could have been. His club were looking for a coach and so a decision would not be forthcoming until a coach was in place, which could have been months. knowing the Edinburgh opportunity would potentially not come up again, he knew he could not pass it up.
And while the return to Scotland has been a success, with Thomson due to start his sixth game of the season when his side face Wasps in the Challenge Cup at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, it is quite a change of lifestyle, as well as a different style of rugby.
“In Australia, I’d finish training and go to the beach for a swim or a coffee,” he said.
“If it rained the pitch would be closed and we’d train indoors. I said to some of the boys I hadn’t played in the rain for ages and every game I’ve played since I got back (to Scotland), there’s been a downpour.
It’s a different sort of way of playing (here), you have to be a lot more switched on in terms of you can’t try those 50-50s. It’s almost as if your skill level has to change.”
Thomson has signed a one-year contract with Edinburgh and so there is an element of pressure on his shoulders to ensure his performances are good enough to earn an extension. But the lock insists that he’s happy to be in the position he is in.
“This weekend will be my sixth game out of ten and considering it’s my first year I’m really happy with that,” he said.
“Ideally I want even more game time, and I get a start this weekend so I really want to take that opportunity and push my case. At the end of the day it’s how you perform on the pitch that gets you picked next week.
“For me, it’s a case of consistency and my knowledge and making sure I nail my role, and then show what I can do and express myself.”
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