Lang looks back on summer adventures as pre-season kicks off with a bang

• 23 Jul 2024
• Features

James Lang has returned to pre-season training with a refreshed outlook after an eventful summer. From becoming an uncle for the first time to exploring the United States and fulfilling groomsmen duties, the ever-popular centre has had plenty to keep him occupied.

“I went back down to Swanage at the start of summer,” Lang explained. “My brother had his first kid, so I became an uncle for the first time to little baby Theodore James Lang. That was awesome. It’s quite emotional, like my parents’ first grandchild as well. So that’s the first one in the family.”

The summer also saw Lang jet off to Corfu for a friend’s wedding and join teammate Ben Vellacott’s stag do. “It was perfect,” he said of the latter. “It wasn’t like the classic rugby stag that would just get out of hand. There was a good group, mix of boys, mix of lads, and everyone got on really well.”

Lang’s summer adventures extended beyond Europe. He took the opportunity to visit former teammate Damien Hoyland in Washington D.C. “I thought about it,” he said. “When he moved out there, I think it was probably April time, we kind of said, if you’re still going to be out there, maybe I’ll come out and see you.”

Lang with his nephew Theodore

The trip was a memorable one for Lang, who embraced both the tourist and local experiences.

“It was great being there with someone who lives there and knows the area. You can do all the non-touristy things, which is really cool. Saying that, we did a lot of the touristy things as well. Got there on the 3rd, and then it’s 4th of July, my first full day there.

“I went to the baseball to watch the Washington Nationals in the morning, 11 a.m it started. I got a top and everything.

“We hired some bikes and went out and did all the monuments and different touristy things. The Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, The Washington Monument. So that was amazing to see.”

Back in Edinburgh, pre-season has kicked off and Lang has already made his mark.

“I did manage to get the fastest bronco time,” he joked, before adding, “But nah, I’ve trained in the off-season. I’ve got six weeks off. So, I mean, I took a week to chill. But since then, I’ve just been keeping active. I just get bored. I need to be doing something, I think.”

Beyond the rugby pitch and broncos, Lang continues to have a strong bond with teammate Ben Vellacott. The pair have been friends for years, with their relationship deepening during their time together at Edinburgh Rugby.

Lang with Damien Hoyland and his wife Sammy while in Washington DC

“I am one of Ben [Vellacott’s] groomsmen,” Lang revealed with a smile, ahead of the scrum-half’s wedding later this summer.

“It feels great I’ve made the call up. I’ve known Benji a while. We did Scotland Under-18s together. There is a picture somewhere where we both look ridiculous.

“Then when he came up here, it got really close. Ben and Beth have been like mum and dad up here for me to be fair.”

Their friendship extends beyond the rugby field. Shared interests, such as surfing, have brought them even closer.

“We do surf together. When I say I surf, I can stand up! We surfed in Lisbon. I’ve got a board up here as well. I know Ben goes to Belhaven Bay quite a bit. I’ve been there a few times for him over the last year.

“Benji’s very good. I think he’s been surfing all his life from Devon. So he kind of grew up with that.”

From catching waves to captivating crowds, no interview with Lang would be complete without a mention of his now-infamous viral dance video from last season.

“Well, to be fair, I do that most sessions,” he laughed. “No, the stars just aligned with that video… Saltburn had just come out. The algorithm was obviously in that favour. And my moves are sensational.”

Dancing to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, which enjoyed a resurgence due to the film Saltburn, Lang’s clip gained over 15 million views, while he personally picked up 30,000 followers on Instagram alone.

Lang continued: “I ended up getting 30,000 followers off the back of that video clip. I think I was just being myself, just being a bit of an idiot!”

Lang and Vellacott surfing together in Portugal

Looking back on last season, Lang’s assessment is marked by a blend of disappointment and determination. Despite the team’s overall performance, the failure to secure a playoff spot left a bitter taste.

“Last season was deflating for sure, knowing that you’re good enough,” Lang admitted.

While acknowledging the team’s shortcomings, he remains confident in their abilities. “I guess it’s hard to say you should have been, because we didn’t get there, but we knew we should have been in that top eight. Again, we won more games than a couple of teams,” he explained.

“But then the bonus points killed us. We knew that was going to kick us out in the end. That’s something we need to focus on.”

“I think last year… injuries didn’t help. I think, obviously, with the World Cup aside, it was a long pre-season and year overall,” he said. However, Lang is quick to dismiss these factors as excuses. “That’s not an excuse, but I think coming into this year, with a short pre-season, we can just get straight stuck into it,” he added.

“We now just want to build on what we did well last year, because we did do a lot of good things.”

Lang clocked the fastest back bronco time on day one of pre-season

Looking ahead, Lang is excited about the return of Darcy Graham and Emiliano Boffelli from injury.

“It’s a new group. A few new players coming in. You’d say that having Darcy Graham and Emiliano Boffelli is probably like having two new signings, essentially, because they missed the near entirety of last year,” he added.

As Lang and his teammates prepare for the new season, there’s a sense of optimism and determination within the squad. With a summer of rejuvenation behind him and the return of key players, the centre is eager to make his mark on the pitch.