Thompson thriving in the capital

• 14 Nov 2024
• Features

Uprooting your life and crossing the country is never easy, but for a professional rugby player, the added pressure of switching to a rival club can make the transition even more challenging.

For Ross Thompson, however, the move to Edinburgh has been remarkably smooth. The stand-off’s proactive approach to integrating into the squad from the outset of pre-season has paid dividends.

His standout performances against the Stormers and Cardiff Rugby, which secured crucial bonus-point victories for Edinburgh, have earned him well-deserved recognition as the Scottish Building Society Player of the Month for October.

Ross Thompson runs out ahead of the season opener against Leinster.

“I’ve really enjoyed being back in Edinburgh and I’ve really enjoyed settling into a new club,” said Thompson.

“I think it’s been a really good change for me, I feel like I’ve really settled in now and I’m enjoying getting to know the boys more and more.

“Then to get voted Scottish Building Society Player of the Month by the fans is obviously very nice.”

Thompson is enjoying his rugby in Edinburgh’s number 10 shirt and his composed performances were key to Edinburgh’s bonus-point victories over DHL Stormers and Cardiff Rugby.

The stand-off kicked 18 points and showcased his playmaking ability, notably with a brilliant cross-field kick to Darcy Graham against Cardiff, setting the tone for a dominant display.

“I think the Stormers game was definitely one of the highlights so far,” continued Thompson.

“I think there was quite a lot of pressure on that game off the back of the first three games. So I think the way the boys came out, we delivered a good performance, and then I think to back that up with a good win against Cardiff, we showed a lot more of our attack in that game.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, there’s still a lot of areas we need to get better at, but I think those two games obviously stand out as highlights, and then probably the Leinster game as well, just getting my first game for the club.”

Thompson acknowledges that Edinburgh’s attacking play is still developing. While they’ve had strong home performances, their away form has been inconsistent. With a demanding schedule ahead, the pressure is on to deliver consistently in both the URC and Europe.

Thompson converts against Cardiff Rugby.

“Yeah, I guess it’s putting all the good stuff together more consistently, because I think everyone at the club knows that we’re capable of it, and it’s probably the reason why some of the results have been frustrating, because we know what we’re capable of, and haven’t delivered that well enough in some of the games.

“But I think there’s still confidence that everyone knows it’s there. The wheels haven’t fallen off, we know exactly what we can do, and I think this next run of games is a really good opportunity to show that.”

Having rejoined his hometown club in the summer, Thompson has solidified his place in the starting lineup, experiencing his most sustained period of first-team action since his impressive 2020-21 season with Warriors, where he was named Player of the Season.

Thompson is confident that continued game time will allow him to build on his strong performances and reach even greater heights as the season progresses.

“I think I find the continuity is really important for me. I feel like as a 10, I think getting a run of games is hugely important.

“I played a lot of games that sort of first year and a half at Glasgow. Yeah. And yeah, I think to get five or six games in a row makes a difference.

“Going into that Stormers and Cardiff game, I felt really confident. And you could tell, I think you could see that. I’m very grateful to the coaches for giving me the opportunities to play because I know I feel like I’ve definitely benefited from that.”

Thompson has returned from a two-week break feeling refreshed, with preparation for the crucial BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton at Hive Stadium on Saturday 30 November well underway.

Edinburgh will be laser-focussed on securing a win against the talented Italian outfit, while in turn bouncing back from last month’s defeat in Swansea.

“I think the league’s so competitive, isn’t it? Yeah. And lots of teams are beating each other. I think the Benetton game’s huge. And then I think you can really build some momentum in Europe. There’s some tough games in there.

“We’ll need to be at our best in every game in December. But it’s normally a period where lots of people get an opportunity to play so it’s really exciting.”