The Herald reveals

A call-up to Scotland's Sevens squad helped salvage James Eddie's Galsgow Warriors career
Published on 11 January 2012

Kevin Ferrie

At the very moment he thought his Glasgow Warriors career had ended, James Eddie was thrown what he considered "a lifeline." The all-action flanker/sometime lock's recklessly rumbustious style had made him very much a fans' favourite from the day he joined the club.

However, that popularity could not protect him when his coaches reluctantly decided that Scottish Rugby's young player of the year in 2006 was now surplus to requirements.

It was an understandable decision. For all that the previous summer's surgery seemed to have been successful on a left shoulder that had required two previous operations, the reality was that he had made only around 60 appearances in five seasons with the club.

Poised to join a French second division club, he played in the Warriors' last match of the season in Dublin thinking he had said his final farewells to the Firhill faithful the previous week.

"It was tough," admits the man known as "Jedi" to his friends and admirers. "I'll never actually forget what I thought was my last game against Leinster. I was gutted because I thought I was on my way to France. However, Kenny Baillie (Glasgow's then chief executive), came up to me afterwards and said he hadn't wanted to tell me before the game but the Scotland sevens management wanted to talk to me.

"I went through to Edinburgh a couple of weeks later and they offered me a contract. I knew this was my last crack at it and it has worked out for the best. It was a total lifeline. Obviously I love to play for Glasgow and I knew when I signed that contract with the sevens that I would still be based in Glasgow and that there would be windows where I would be able to play for the Warriors."

It meant that, far from his Warriors career having finished in the closing weeks of last season, he was available to play in their first six matches of this season, one of his longest sequences of successive appearances.

"That was great," said the 26-year-old. "I had a proper pre-season for the first time in years and we started to play well, beating Leinster and Cardiff which were great wins."

His form certainly attracted the attention of Sean Lineen, Glasgow's head coach, who observed yesterday: "James is a talented, hungry player who has won a place in the hearts of the Glasgow crowd with his passionate, committed style.

"Before the sevens season began he was in the form of his life for us, scoring a crucial try in our away win over Cardiff and bringing some real aggression to our play. We'll be looking for more of the same once he comes back on board next season."

A combination of that early-season form and his response to being with the sevens squad have earned the new deal he has been offered, which will now see him return to the Warriors full-time on a two year deal starting in the summer.

"I've been able to develop aspects of my game by playing with the sevens squad, finding myself in positions I wouldn't have been in previously. It has completely taken me out of my comfort zone and I think that can only help me," said Eddie.

It may not be that comfortable but there is a glamorous ring to a sequence of trips between now and the end of the season that will see him head for Wellington, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Japan and London. Oh . . . and, of course, there is the small matter of the international sevens circuit taking in the city of Glasgow for the first time.

"That's really exciting. I can't wait and for the Glasgow boys who are involved, myself, Pete Horne and Colin Gregor, it is going to be very special to play in front of a Glasgow crowd."

That event, which SRU officials have promised will be a 15,000 sell-out on both days at Scotstoun Stadium, now merely offer a taste of things to come for a player who is grateful for the special relationship he has with Warriors supporters and relishes the prospect of that deepening as the club grows.

"I'm really touched by the response I've had from people. It means so much to play for the club," said Eddie.

"This is a great time to be involved with the Warriors. The squad we're developing is really good. Everyone's hungry and so they are coming in and playing well when they get their chances. The crowds are building every week too and it's great to have that backing, so things are looking very exciting ahead of the move to Scotstoun next season."

This article was posted on 11-Jan-2012, 08:09 by Hugh Barrow.