Centurion Watson signs on
4 Apr 2024Scotland star and club stalwart Hamish Watson today extended his contract at Edinburgh Rugby for at least a further year, taking the British & Irish Lion into his 14th season in the Scottish capital.
Watson, 32, has made over 150 appearances for the club since joining from the Leicester Tigers academy as a teenager in 2011.
Since then, he has established himself as an ever-present feature on the openside of the back-row, famed for his ballistic ball carrying and tireless contact work, which he has taken to the international arena with aplomb – earning 59 caps for his country and a Test cap for the British & Irish Lions in 2021.
Edinburgh Rugby, Head Coach, Sean Everitt, said: “We’re delighted to keep Hamish here at the club. His on-field contribution is there for all to see – he’s a relentless competitor and gives 100% every time he takes to the field for club and country.
“Playing the way he does takes a huge amount of thankless and unheralded work behind the scenes in training and preparation. He sets an exceptionally high standard for everyone at the club every day – not just the back-row forwards.
“He’s the type of player any coach, or any fan, would be delighted to have at their club, and I’m sure wouldn’t have been short of suitors, so we’re delighted he’s staying on at the club.”
Watson made his first Edinburgh Rugby appearance against Cardiff Blues in 2011 and, by 2014, had nailed down a starting spot amidst significant opposition.
He was then rewarded with a senior international debut in the 2015 Six Nations Championship, against Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, subsequently earning the starting seven jersey in all but one of eight Tests in an impressive 2016/17 season.
The icing on the cake came in the second summer test when his lung-busting support line saw him cross the whitewash for his second Scotland try against the Wallabies, in the national team’s historic win in Sydney.
As an established Scotland ever-present, Watson made his 100th appearance in the 1872 Cup match-up against Glasgow Warriors in April 2019, hitting the 150 milestone against Zebre Parma earlier this year, with plenty more in store for tenacious flanker.
Watson said: “Edinburgh Rugby is my club and Edinburgh is my home – I couldn’t see myself playing anywhere else at this point in my career.
“This is the club where I’ve grown up and I was immensely proud to reach 150 appearances for the team earlier this season. Joining guys like Stuart McInally, Mike Blair and Grant Gilchrist with over 150 appearances for the club means a lot to me and I can’t wait to continue pulling on the jersey for at least another season yet.
“Working with Sean [Everitt] has been brilliant and that continuity – with all the other coaches extending their contracts too – was a big a reason for wanting to stay at the club.
“As I’ve always said, I want to win silverware for this club. We know we have the squad to do it, and a brilliant home and fanbase at Hive Stadium, it’s now just about believing we can take the next steps to lift trophies.”
