Matt Currie: Making his mark

• 25 Aug 2024
• Features

Edinburgh Rugby's rising star, Matt Currie, has had a summer to remember.

The Dumfries-born centre capped off a stellar season at club level with his Scotland debut against Canada earlier this summer, a moment he’s dreamt of since childhood.

“Yeah, it was really cool,” Currie recalled of his first international appearance.

“As a kid, it’s what you work towards, and it’s what you want to do, it’s like a massive dream, and then getting picked for the tour was unbelievable, but then the feeling when you do get to run on the pitch, and it’s your first cap, and I had my mum and my dad out there, it was really special, and I loved it.”

Currie’s journey to international rugby has been a gradual one, playing alongside many of his Edinburgh and Scotland teammates throughout the age-grade ranks.

“It was amazing playing on tour with guys I’ve come right through the system with,” he reflected.

“I played with Harry Paterson at under-13s at school, but then after that it was kind of into age-grade stuff, and Edinburgh. So yeah, I’ve played with him for quite a while, and it was cool to get to put on a Scotland jersey with him there, because that was his, he obviously got capped in the Six Nations, but that was his second cap.

“Yeah, it was cool, because obviously it was my first time in a Scotland jersey, and it was cool to have him outside me doing that.”

His debut was a special moment not just for him, but for his hometown club, Dumfries Saints.

Currie started his rugby journey with the south of Scotland club before moving to Edinburgh to finish his schooling at Merchiston Castle.

Currie crashes over against Scarlets

“I was down watching Dumfries in their pre-season game against Biggar just last week,” he said. “I’d like to get down to the clubhouse a bit more this year.

“It’s really cool to be the latest player to be capped from Dumfries. Guys like Stafford [McDowall] and Alex [Craig] are both from there while Scott Steele is obviously someone that I’ve played alongside. It’s a proud moment for sure.”

The 2023/24 season was a breakthrough for Currie, who believes it was his best as a professional.

The centre picked up the club’s Breakthrough Player of the Year at the club’s annual Season Awards having been one of the most consistent and versatile midfielders in the URC.

“Yeah, I’d say…Obviously not as a team, as we probably felt like we underachieved last season, but I think personally, it’s probably the most rugby I’ve played in a season, and the highest level of rugby I’ve played.

“So it was awesome, from my own development and the enjoyment I took out of last season.

“It was class. And hopefully I can just bring our learnings from that into this season and keep pushing ourselves as a team, and then for myself, just individually, I just want to keep pushing myself, and hopefully I can take the learnings from last year and the learnings from the summer, and hopefully kick on a little bit.”

One of Currie’s standout moments from last season was scoring in December’s record-breaking 1872 Cup decider at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Crashing over in the North stand corner, It was a breakout moment for the centre whose try scoring exploits also came alive in Europe, crossing the whitewash against both Castres Olympique and Bayonne.

Mark Bennett celebrates with Currie after his 1872 Cup score

“There were probably a few highlights, but I think scoring at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in the 1872 Cup in the corner. That was cool,” he said.

“Because that will be the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of and it’s the 1872 Cup, which you always want to play in.

“Yeah. And we won that game as well. It was a shame we didn’t win the 1872 Cup, but the feeling of scoring in that game was… Yeah, it was unreal.

“It’s always a cool feeling scoring for Edinburgh, and especially when you’ve got a decent crowd there, and it is class just sitting, hearing the noise of the fans and stuff. For sure. Like any time you kind of score, it’s pretty special, but the 1872 was probably the highlight of last year.”

This season, Currie is excited about the additions of Matt Scott and Mosese Tuipulotu to the capital midfield.

The duo will add to the competition already in place with Matt Currie, James Lang and Mark Bennett just three of the centres vying for a place in the capital midfield.

“Yeah, it’s class having them both come in,” he said.

“Matt [Scott] brings a lot of experience, and you can see he’s still on the top of his game. He’s playing class in training,and Mo’s [Tuipulotu] a younger lad, and you can see that he’s bringing energy, and he looks like a dangerous ball carrier.

“So hopefully this season they can show what they’re about, and I think it’s only going to strengthen our midfield.

“They look like they’re both good ball carriers. They have those soft skills as well, which I think they both do, it’ll be pretty important. And then you’ve got to carry hard at 13 as well. Either way, it’s great to see them in.

“I think they’ve been training really well, and hopefully we can see them do some damage this year.”

The return of Darcy Graham and Emiliano Boffelli from injury will also be a boost for Sean Everitt’s side.

And Currie is full of praise for returning star winger Graham, who is so often a game-changer for the capital outfit.

“Darcy just opens everything up,” Currie laughs. “He’s so dangerous, and even just today, seeing him in training, you see the spaces he can get through.

“You think there’s nothing there, and he gets through, and then even in defence, he’s so good because his speed off the mark, as soon as they throw a pass, which is slightly long, he’ll just snap on it.

“It’s class as a 13 when you’re in that kind of space, and you’re feeling a little bit under pressure, and you just see him flying up and cutting it off. So it’s really exciting to have him back, and Boff as well. When he gets back, it’ll be class.

“Boffelli is world class as well, so I think, again, it’s only going to strengthen our team, and hopefully we can kick on.”

Currie is excited to be back in action at Hive Stadium

As Edinburgh prepare for their season opener against Leinster at Hive Stadium on Friday 20 September, Currie is eager to make a strong start, with two rounds of action to follow in South Africa.

All eyes are on Currie and his capital squad as Sean Everitt’s side kickstart the new season against the Irish giants – a match that the young centre is relishing.

“Yeah, it’s definitely the start you want,” he said. “You obviously want to start the season on a win, and I suppose doing it at home again would be unbelievable.

“Everyone knows Leinster are a world-class team, and it takes a lot to beat them, so we just need to make sure that this pre-season, we’re getting ourselves in good positions and making sure we’re pushing ourselves so that when we do play that first game, we’re on top of our game, we’re in the best position that we can put our best plays on the field.

“The first few games are pretty tough, going away to South Africa is not going to be easy either, so I think for us it would obviously be a great momentum builder if we beat Leinster to go into the South African games as well.

“So yeah, hopefully, as I say, we just need to make sure we’re preparing well and then when we do start the season, we hit the ground running.”