Goosen hungry for more

• 14 Aug 2024
• Features

Wes Goosen’s journey to becoming a fan favourite at Edinburgh Rugby has been a rollercoaster ride.

The winger, whose infectious smile and electrifying play have captured the hearts of the Scottish capital, established himself as one of the most exciting talents in the United Rugby Championship last season, but it wasn’t a straightforward path to success.

After stop-start year one in Edinburgh, which saw Goosen miss large parts of the campaign due to injury, the winger thrived in a bounce back year two.

Goosen earned the coveted Breadalbane Players’ Player of the Season award at the club’s annual Season Awards, an award he says got his teammates ‘trust and approval’ making his success all the sweeter.

“It was a really good year personally,” he reflects. “I was happy and I knew I had it in me, but it was a bit weird because it’s how I envisioned my first year.

“Each year I kind of write goals down. And picking up an award was definitely the goal for the second year after watching [Luke] Crosbie pick up every award my first year, I wanted to do the same.

“I guess my teammates appreciate what I’m doing on the field. And I’m a huge team man. And I want to be that kind of person, like always a team person first, not out there for himself.

“I still think I can go to another level, which I want to build on this year,” he states with determination.

Goosen dives in for a score against Scarlets last season

After a summer spent recharging and reconnecting with his roots, Goosen is back in Edinburgh with renewed vigour.

“Summer was really good,” he reflects. “It was my first time back in New Zealand since I moved over, so it was two years. It was really cool.”

A trip that included a whirlwind tour of the country, from the pulsating atmosphere of Hurricanes matches to the serene beauty of Queenstown, was a much-needed respite. Yet, as the weeks passed, the pull of the Scottish capital grew stronger.

“I was looking forward to getting home, but by the end of it I was keen to come back to Scotland,” he admits.

The unwavering support of his family has been a cornerstone of Goosen’s journey. Despite being over 11,000 miles away, they continue to provide him with the backing he needs to drive him to success.

“My mum and dad are like the biggest, biggest supporters,” he says with a smile.

Mum’s crazy, Dad loves rugby, but like every move, every step, every day they call me, how’s training? I love it.” While the constant contact might be overwhelming for some, Goosen appreciates the unwavering belief his parents have in him.

A key aspect of Goosen’s success has been his ability to connect with the Edinburgh faithful.

When he’s not making powerful line breaks or securing a high-ball under pressure, the winger always has time for the Edinburgh supporters.

Goosen back in the gym in EH12 ahead of the new season

“I wanted to get like the players kind of trust and almost, not really approval, but like prove to them that this is kind of why I come over here,” he explains.

“And then the next people I wanted to kind of prove to was the fans. I want them to be on my side.

“I love interacting with fans, love signing after a game, especially little kids in there because I was once a kid. And you see those little comments on social or you see like the messages from fans, you really appreciate it.”

Two other back-three stars that share the same relationship with the club’s supporters are Darcy Graham and Emiliano Boffelli.

With Graham now fit, and Boffelli not far behind, the duo will add even more firepower to the Edinburgh back-three, having missed much of last season due to injury.

“To have Darcy Graham and Emiliano Boffelli back this season is huge,” Goosen enthuses. “They are both world class players.

“I played a little bit with Boff last year. He still wasn’t 100% and he was still carving up, but to have more threats on the field with Boff, Darcy and Duhan [van der Merwe] is amazing.

“If you stop one person, you’ve got to then stop Duhan. Or if you stop Duhan, you’ve got to stop Darcy. It’s just going to create a lot of attacking threats, and we’ve got a lot of rugby brains on one field.”

Goosen has also forged a strong bond with fellow back-three player Harry Paterson who, like Goosen, enjoyed a breakout campaign in the capital last season.

“Harry Paterson, he is so interesting,” he laughs. “So I remember the first week in Scotland, I had no car.

“So anyway, he offered to pick me up. I think he was living close to my flat. And our first kind of conversation was, because I’m from New Zealand, ‘hey mate, do you know Lord of the Rings? Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit?’

“And at that stage, I actually hadn’t watched it. But every day, mate, you’ve got to watch Lord of the Rings. You’ve got to see Lord of the Rings.

“But nah, he’s awesome. I get along really well with Harry. He’s an outstanding player.

“I saw him play in the summer for Scotland. He was awesome and scoring tries. I think he’s been a bit unlucky with his injuries as well. But yeah, he’s been amazing. He’s just an all-round athlete.”

Goosen at the club’s recent Rugby on the Road event in Linlithgow

Joining Goosen from the Southern Hemisphere in 2024/25 is summer signing Mosese Tuipulotu.

The arrival of the Scottish qualified centre is another significant addition to the Edinburgh squad, and Goosen has backed the former Waratahs man to succeed due to his work effort and drive.

“I’ve spoken to Mosese quite a bit,” says Goosen. “He’s so keen to rip in. That’s all you want from your players is the keenness to play, the keenness to learn, to grow, to be better.

“Watching him in training games, just his skills, the offloads, just his ability to play space and all that.

“I think, not comparing him to his brother, but they’re both big boys and can go for a ball. It’s going to be obviously huge for the team.

“The biggest thing though is his eagerness to learn and play, which is good.”

As for his own ambitions for the upcoming season, Goosen is clear about his goals.

“Personally, my goal is not to be happy with last year,” he states.

“Not being cocky, last year was good for me, but I keep saying it, I’ve still got so much more. I feel like I can influence the game more. I feel like I know the game pretty well.

“I can maybe score a few more tries to be honest,” he admits with a grin.

But it’s not just about personal accolades. Goosen is also keen to develop his leadership skills and become a more vocal presence on the pitch.

Ultimately, though, it’s about enjoying the game. “I just want to have fun, too,” he says. “I’m a big believer in having fun.”

“I know people have seen Damien McKenzie, he likes to smile before a kick because at the end of the day, it’s a game.”

With his infectious enthusiasm and undeniable talent, the sky seems to be the limit for the man simply known as Goose.