Glasgow tight-head remembers how national team veterans welcomed him years ago
Zander Fagerson is now well established as a veteran of the Scotland national team despite only being 30-years-old.
His 84 appearances put him as the second most capped player in the squad behind only Finn Russell. Being an ‘elder statesman’ within the group is a role that the Glasgow Warriors man relishes as he looks to help the next generation of international stars settle at Murrayfield.
The two time British & Irish Lions tourist remembers how the older players in the squad treated him during his first few camps a decade ago and wants to try and emulate those big names of dark blue gone by. In particular, he recalls the influence that one man he called a ‘Scotland legend’ had on his development.
From being destroyed in the scrums to becoming elder statesman
“I think WP [Nel] was always big, he was a big mentor of mine,” said Fagerson. “WP, Ross Ford and Dicko [Alasdair Dickinson] took me under their wing my first couple of years.
“Dicko would destroy me in most scrums and then tell me what I did wrong, he'd always have time for me. I was really lucky that I had a great group at Glasgow as well with Gordon Reid, Ryan Grant, John Welsh and [Michael] Cusack.
“If I had any questions or wanted to learn anything they always had time for me, so I was really grateful for that. WP was massive for me, I was coming in trying to compete with him and he always had time for me.
“He didn't always speak the most but when he spoke, everyone listened. He's a Scotland legend and I owe a lot to him.
“Also, Euan Murray at Glasgow as well, he was class. I absolutely loved having him there, he was a hero of mine growing up, so that was really special for me.
“I've been very grateful and very lucky to have some great guys to play with and to learn from. So if I can help any young boys coming through, I'll do my best.”
The summer Test matches saw Fagerson’s Glasgow Warriors front-row teammates Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen earning their first caps. That familiarity translated well to Scotland as the tight-head revealed the role he tries to play when these players are taking their first steps into the national team fold.
“I'd call myself a senior player now,” Fagerson explained. “I think everyone needs their own different department and I like to lead the scrums at the Scotland camp, lead that front row.
“Having Seb and Gregor in the summer was a great addition. Knowing how hard they work and knowing how they operate at Glasgow, I knew they'd be like a duck to water in the Scotland environment and they did that.
“I'm looking forward to working with them and I do enjoy that role of being the elder statesman. I've been through it, I know what it's like when boys come into that first camp, you've just got to remind them it's another game of rugby. There are a few more people watching, but it’s still the same game you fell in love with when you were five.”
Finally, Fagerson had a message for the latest group of players when it comes to their first fixture of the Autumn against New Zealand. The mighty All Blacks have never lost to the Scots so every match against them is an opportunity to make history.
“Let's just go out there and do it, there's no time like the present,” said Fagerson. “We're doing all we can to go out there and put a performance in but now it needs to be less talk and more do.”
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