Gary Heatly talks to Connor Boyle ahead of tomorrow night's clash with Heriots
Teenage back-row Connor Boyle has made quite an impact in his first few months with Watsonians.
The 18-year-old played most of his rugby growing up at Stewart’s Melville College and played a lot at openside flanker as he made his way into the senior first XV at the school.
During 2017/18, when he was in S6, he captained Scotland under-18 in the Six Nations Festival in Wales and he also gained some senior experience by playing for Stewart’s Melville.
During that year he was a stage two Fosroc Scottish Rugby Academy player and, given the form he was showing, it was no surprise when he was upgraded to a stage three player on leaving school in the summer.
“All of the experience I had last year with the school team, the under-18s and Stewart’s Melville left me feeling good heading into the summer and I was keen to keep my rugby going,” he said.
“I have started to study part-time at Heriot-Watt University and that fits pretty well around my Academy commitments, training sometimes with Edinburgh Rugby and my commitments with Watsonians.
“I joined Watsonians when I left school because I had worked with [head coach] Steve Lawrie before when he was my coach at school and also with Scotland age-grade sides.
“The guys all welcomed me into the club and I have just tried to learn from the experienced guys around me like Michael Fedo, while myself and the other younger back-rows [James Miller and Gregor Nelson] help each other on and push each other to get better.
“It took a couple of weeks to get used to the physicality of the Tennent’s Premiership, but I am enjoying the challenge and we are on a good run at the moment.”
Last week Connor played at the Oriam as Edinburgh’s under-20s defeated Glasgow’s under-20s while, as he mentioned, during this international period he has been training with Richard Cockerill’s full Edinburgh squad.
“That has been great, you just have to work hard and take as much on board as you can,” he said.
“The head coach of Edinburgh has shown that he is not scared to pick young guys if they are doing well and seeing someone like [Watsonians vice-captain] Jamie Hodgson getting game time with Edinburgh shows me that there is a pathway to that level.
“We also have a number of Scotland under-20 camps coming up soon, so I just need to get my head down and keep working hard.”
On Friday night Watsonians take on Heriot’s as the league resumes (Myreside, 7.45pm) - and it promises to be a cracker.
“We know Heriot’s are a good side while we have been playing well and the guys enjoy playing under the lights in front of a big crowd, so it should be a good night for everyone at the club,” Connor concluded.
Article by: Gary Heatly (GH Media)
