SEAN CROMBIE spoke today of his pride at being first pick in the recent draft which could pave the way for each of Scotland's 72 professional rugby players to return to the club scene at some stage next season.
But the 22-year-old Edinburgh hooker, newly signed from Boroughmuir, insists his aim is to be too immersed in Celtic League and European Cup matters to spent any time with his Selkirk suitors.
He said: "It is the ultimate compliment to be picked f
irst and especially by a club as ambitious as Selkirk. Of course, if I'm required to be a Premiership player, I'll act professionally and do the best I can for them. However, at this stage of my career, if I'm being seen to play club rugby every week, I'll be disappointed because that will mean not being in the Edinburgh squad and I have to focus on that goal."
Adding lustre to Crombie's draft nomination is the fact that newly-promoted Selkirk's coach Kevin Barrie is an ex-hooker himself who clearly has an eye for talent in his old position.
Despite his relatively tender years for a front row forward, Crobie has extensive experience of club rugby.
He started at Glenrothes midis then moved on to Stirling County youths en route to Kirkcaldy.
He recalled: "They were a real hard man's outfit in Division Two who toughened me up a lot."
Crombie then joined up with former Kirkcaldy coach Mike O'Donovan at Aberdeen Grammar FPs in Division One.
From there Crombie had a spell attached to Borders while representing Scotland under-21s and the national sevens team. When the Reivers folded, he contributed to Boroughmuir's title-winning campaign to the extent he was voted player of the year and was singled out for a Barbarians debut.
He said: "Representing Selkirk against Boroughmuir would be interesting because I owe so much to everybody at Meggetland – particularly coach Eamon John for giving me the final push to a professional contract.
"But that situation won't arise if I fulfil my aim, which is to be permanently attached to the Edinburgh squad.
"Having said that, it is great that more pros are going to have the opportunity to play club rugby – nobody wants to be sitting on the sidelines rather than playing if it is avoidable.
"There's talk of more back-up games for the Edinburgh lads and the ideal scenario would be a Celtic competition for A teams along the same lines of the one that operates in England.
"
To gain an Edinburgh start, Crombie will have to oust Ross Ford – a challenge he readily accepts while acknowledging the abilities of the Scotland No.1.
Crobie said: "Training with Fordy is pushing me to raise my standards and there is no point ducking any competition. If you want to get anywhere you have to compete against the best.
"What I do appreciate is the fact that (Edinburgh coach] Andy Robinson strikes me as the type who starts the season with a clean slate.
"Perform well and I might get a chance to play in the pre-season opener against London Wasps at Murrayfield on August 23 and take it from there."
The 5ft 11in, 16st 7in Crombie has already shown real determination by using the Scottish premiership as a springboard to Barbarian honours.
He said: "To be invited to play for the select club was an honour but doubly so because I started their match against Bedford.
"What possibly helped is that (Scotland under-21 manager] John Jeffrey is a Barbarians committee member and I also got support from Eamon, who sent them some tapes of me playing," said the man whose CV also includes a trip to Australia with the Scottish Sevens squad which contested the Commonwealth Youth Games.
"It is Boroughmuir who I am most grateful to for getting me in a position to play regularly at pro level but hopefully it is time to move on now and give a return to Scottish rugby elsewhere."
EDINBURGH ACES BID TO HELP SCOTS STAY IN TOUCH WITH EURO ELITEMORE than 50 Edinburgh-based touch rugby players will spearhead Scotland's challenge in the European Championships which kick-off tomorrow in France.
The event in Massy in the southern suburbs of Paris continues over the weekend and Scotland have six squads taking part – in the men's open, women's open, mixed open, men's over-30s, women's over-30s and men's over-35s categories.
No fewer than 56 players from the Edinburgh touch leagues are in the Scotland squads. Ex-Boroughmuir player Robbie McKenzie is skippering the mixed open team and he believes this event can only help the popularity of touch in the Capital grow.
"The Edinburgh leagues are growing year on year and there was real competition for places in all the national squads for this event," he said.
Among the local participants is former Watsonians winger Keith Watters in the men's open team.
The full article contains 835 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
