Hamish Watson

​The impressive club performances of young back-row Hamish Watson were rewarded with a senior international debut in the 2015 RBS 6 Nations Championship, against Italy at BT Murrayfield.

It was just over a year until Watson got another chance at senior international honours, an opportunity he grabbed with both hands, bringing his relentless club form to the national team set-up and subsequently earning the starting seven jersey in all but one of eight tests in an impressive 2016/17 season.

The icing on the cake came in the second summer test when his lung-busting support line saw him cross the whitewash for his second Scotland try against the Wallabies, in the national team's historic win in Sydney.

Hamish went on to start in all Autumn Tests that year, as well as Scotland's five tests at the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations.

His consistency of performance has continued throughout and in 2021, Watson passed 40 Scotland caps during the 2021 Guinness Six Nations, a championship for which he did not miss a single hit, making 60/60 tackles, and was crowned Player of the Championship.

Hamish is currently touring with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa, having made 3 appearances for the team so far, and named Player of the Match against the Sigma Lions, scoring a try in the game.

Through the ranks

Watson had already represented Scotland at under-19, under-20 and Scotland 7s, before signing a senior deal in Edinburgh Rugby in 2014.

He moved north from the Leicester Tigers Academy for a centrally held Scotland 7s contract in the summer of 2011. After a string of impressive showings in the back-row he was approached to join the Edinburgh’s Elite Development Programme.

Hamish was a welcome addition to the squad, impressing at each outing thanks to quick turn of pace and breathless work-rate to the breakdown.

His 2014 full time pro contract was extended until May 2017 following standout performances last autumn - particularly in the wins over Munster and Bordeaux-Begles.

Hamish qualifies for Scotland through his grandparents and pulled on the dark blue jersey at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championships.