CRAIG Smith believes he will rediscover his love of rugby in Paris after signing for one of the most well-known of flamboyant French clubs, Racing Metro.
The Scotland prop quit Edinburgh in May after eight years in the capital, stating that he had lost his enthusiasm for the game. The decision sparked headlines when the 29-year-old then withdrew from the Scotland squad to tour Argentina for the same r
eason, insisting he felt he could not do himself or his team-mates justice while feeling disillusioned.
He has now, however, signed a two-year contract with Racing Metro 92, the former Racing Club de France who merged with US Metro, the sports club of the Paris public transport workers, in 2001. Settling into Parisian life this week with his girlfriend Jill – a former languages student who speaks fluent French – Smith said he was looking forward to the start of pre-season training next Monday in a way he couldn't have imagined just a month ago.
"It was difficult at the end of the season feeling so down about rugby and not knowing what the future held," he explained, "but I feel quite different now.
"Because I was injured, my season finished about the middle of May and I didn't do anything for five or six weeks. Jill and I had a holiday in Mexico and at that point it did cross my mind that I might not play rugby again.
"It wasn't a new feeling because ever since I had the serious neck injury, and the operation (December, 2006], I've thought my career might be about to end and sort of considered any rugby a bonus.
"After chilling out, going on holiday, going to a few weddings and just spending time away from rugby, I started to feel a lot better. Then, because of the publicity around me not going to Argentina, I think, I got a few phone calls from clubs suggesting a change of scenery might be the answer. Having French clubs asking 'will you come and have a look at us', and obviously interested in you, got the excitement and enthusiasm going again and got me thinking.
"I had eight good years at Edinburgh and the fans were great, but we'd had quite a few different coaches and different approaches and I think there comes a time for every player where you feel it's time for a move. Most players these days tend to change clubs after three or four years, some earlier, some later. I just needed that step away to realise change was what I was needing I think."
There are few clubs that might seem as well-equipped to raise enthusiasm levels as Racing, a club with a colourful history. Racing, who still play in the once-national stadium of Colombes, were the first-ever winners of the French Championship, in 1892, and developed a great reputation for flair and panache.
They are second only to Toulouse in the numbers of internationals they have produced, with 76 and 12 captains, including the dynamic blond-haired flanker Jean-Pierre Rives.
However, since their last French Championship win of 1990 they have struggled to cope with the dawning of the professional age and, bar a spell between 1998 and 2000, have languished in the second division, with Stade Francais taking over their mantle in the capital.
It was quite a mantle. In the 1980s/90s they became more bizarrely famous for the novel ideas players dreamt up to stamp their desire for fun into matches. Internationals such as Franck Mesnel and Jean-Baptiste Lafond were at the centre of pranks where they played wearing berets, with dyed yellow hair, bald caps and old-fashioned long, striped shorts.
The former Berwick prop may be floating back into the game on the wave of ambition and excitement in western Paris, but he hopes a rediscovered joie de vivre may also help revive his own international ambitions.
"I definitely want to get back into a Scotland jersey," he added. "I've got 25 caps and have always loved representing my country, and while it might be harder in France, the Racing coach is Pierre Berbizier, who knows of the difficulties of club versus country from his time as Italy coach.
"One of the first things he said to me was that he wouldn't restrict my time with Scotland if I'm called up, which was important to me, especially after I've given up my place in the squad and the team have done brilliantly on tour. I've got to work hard now to get involved again, but I'm looking forward to that now, which is not something I could say two months ago."
The full article contains 795 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
