All eyes on Scot Finlay Christie ahead of rugby kick-off in New Zealand

Big brother Gregor will be watching Blues’ opener against Wellington next Sunday

Finlay Christie, who was doing weights sessions in his garage during lockdown in New Zealand, is ready for the Super Rugby Aotearoa kick-off. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

New Zealand has gone from being the other side of the world to a universe away as the land of the long white cloud prepares to get its national sport and obsession up and running again as soon as next weekend, quite possibly in front of packed crowds, when Super Rugby Aotearoa kicks off.

One Scottish rugby player who is fortunate enough to have his boots firmly on and ready for action is Finlay Christie, the 24-year-old Auckland Blues scrum-half, who is not so much a “kilted Kiwi” as a… well what would the opposite of that be?

He’s one of our own, with no need for a granny’s birth certificate to prove it. Born at Borders General Hospital and raised in Peebles before the family emigrated to New Zealand when he was seven, Christie is forging a promising professional career in the world’s toughest rugby school.

***NO SALES OR SYNDICATION - NO METADATA STRIPPING (IT'S ILLEGAL)*** Pic - Greg Macvean - 14/09/19 - 07971 826 457 Currie v Selkirk rugby, Maleny Park Currie - Gregor Christie Selkirk - Luca Berte

“Hopefully I’ll be involved,” said Christie of next Sunday’s opener for the Blues against Wellington Hurricanes at Eden Park in a domestic competition hastily put together as New Zealand has led the world in dealing with the global pandemic. Only 21 deaths and just over 1,500 cases after swift and strict lockdown measures mean that there is a chance that a cabinet meeting this week could give the green light to the ten-week tournament, which kicks off with Otago Highlanders v Waikato Chiefs on Saturday, being played in front of crowds from the off.

“We’re in a good three-week block of training and I’m in good nick, all the boys are and desperate to get out there and play again,” Christie told me from Auckland.

Meanwhile, in a striking parallel with the vastly different situations facing his adopted homeland and Scotland, his older brother by a couple of years, Gregor, is here facing the far more serious situation we are in at the present time.

Also a scrum-half, he headed over to the land of his birth two years ago and, a carpenter to trade, has been impressing at Currie Chieftains to the point where he earned Scotland Club XV honours in Ireland earlier this year and was planning a short-term Super 6 stint with Watsonians.

“That’s all up in the air now, we don’t know what will be happening,” said Gregor. “I was staying in a flat in Balerno but I’m now down helping out on my Uncle Sandy Fleming’s farm at Teviothead [in the Borders].”

Back down under, Finlay is battling with Sam Nock for the No 9 jersey for a Blues side who now have All Black legend Dan Carter on their roster after his high-profile signing last week.

“It’s going to be good,” said the younger Christie. “It’s new territory but it’s all derby matches so it will be intense and exciting to play in and watch.”

Of course there is only so long before the obvious question has to be asked. Would playing for Scotland and adding to the long line of great Borders scrum-halves, from Roy Laidlaw through Gary Armstrong, Bryan Redpath to Greig Laidlaw, appeal?

“Never say never,” he said. “But I have another year on my Blues contract and that’s really my only focus right now, to try and establish myself and build a career here.”

His big brother is a bit more open to the notion after pulling on the dark blue himself in Dublin. “I’d definitely recommend Fin to come up here and give it a shot if the opportunity came but, like he says, the Blues has to be his focus at the moment.”

The Christies’ dad Chris, who worked in shipping which took the family to Aberdeen for the last year before they emigrated, and mum Liz are avid followers of their sons’ rugby careers and were even planning a trip home to visit Gregor.

“Apparently my dad was still all for it but, in the situation I think mum overruled and said it wouldn’t be wise to book anything. The mums always know best!

“I must say in the past few weeks I have considered just heading home but the travel restrictions and the quarantining makes it a bit complicated so I’m just waiting to see at the moment, helping out here marking lambs on the farm.

“The plan was always that I’d give Super 6 a shot with Watsonians for the Scottish side to it until the end of the year [before cross-border element with Welsh clubs] and then head back to New Zealand.”

The Christies moved to Pukekohe in south Auckland and both boys blossomed athletically, Finlay representing New Zealand at gymnastics before focusing fully on his rugby.

Inheriting Hawick mother Liz’s red hair, though she described it as “shimmering copper” in an interview with local media, Finlay gained the nickname “Red” and progressed to the point where he earned a contract with Waikato Chiefs and played against the British and Irish Lions in 2017 before returning to his home city.

His big brother is hopeful of seeing him in action over the next few weeks. “He had an injury at the start of the year but he has a good bond with the coach Leon MacDonald and I spoke to him a few days ago, before the Carter signing was announced, and he said he was in great shape so I’m sure we’ll be seeing him doing his stuff,” said Gregor.

A glimmer of light for deprived Scottish rugby fans. Finlay Christie, one to watch. He is one of our own and, who knows, we may see him in dark blue rather than Auckland blue one day.

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