Carmichael relishing Americas opportunity

13 Jun 2024

When lock Rob Carmichael joined Edinburgh Rugby in February, a place in Scotland’s summer tour squad to The Americas was a goal that sat closer to the realm of pipe dreams, than an achievable target.

That all changed this week however when Carmichael was deservedly named as a ‘development player’ for the tour which sees Scotland face Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay in consecutive weeks.

Carmichael – alongside Exeter Chiefs’ Fin Richardson and Glasgow Warriors’ Ben Afshar – will now have the opportunity to mix it with Scotland’s best, while proving himself in an international environment. Not bad for someone that was playing BUCS Super Rugby at the start of the year.

The call-up caps off an exciting few months for Carmichael, 20, who is now hoping that a summer of rugby in The Americas can help him kick on with Edinburgh Rugby, whom he is yet to make his professional debut with just yet.

“I couldn’t be more excited to go on tour, especially to the Americas,” said Carmichael. “I’m keen to see what I take away from it and I really can’t wait to be involved.

“There will be plenty to learn from new coaches and players which will just add to my game. Hopefully I just continue to build on what I’ve learned at Edinburgh so far around set piece and physicality.”

At 6ft 11in, Carmichael naturally stands out from the crowd, however there is much more to the lock’s game than just his height.

With a terrific engine and ‘good skills for a big man’, the lock has all the attributes to reach the next level, with a run of standout performances for the Edinburgh ‘A’ team in the recent FOSROC Super Series Sprint showcasing what he’s all about.

Carmichael was named FOSROC Player of the Match in the ‘A’ team’s recent win over Watsonians with the lock crossing the whitewash on two occasions during the Championship.

It’s now about continuing to grow as a player, with Carmichael in the perfect place to do that alongside experienced campaigners like Grant Gilchrist and Sam Skinner.

“The A team games have been a great introduction and really allowed me to get a feel for how I fit into the team.

“The highlight for me has really been getting out on the pitch and playing with this group of boys.

“The start at Edinburgh has gone much better than I could have thought. I’m enjoying the style of rugby, the training and the way the coaches go about things and I’ve been playing my best rugby because of it. I couldn’t be more excited for the next few years.”