'It always felt like we were trying to catch up with Glasgow... we did not play the most exciting style at times'
After almost a decade of service to Edinburgh, making 125 appearances and playing under four head coaches, Dougie Fife is ready to leave his boyhood club, content with what he’s achieved and thirsting for a new stimulus.
The rangy back-three rapier turns 30 on Saturday, and as he nears the milestone birthday, has seized the perfect gift. Fife has signed a two-year contract with New England Free Jacks, one of last season’s new entrants to the North American Major League Rugby. It will be his first chance to play overseas and the realisation of a deep-rooted goal.
“I’ve always liked the idea of playing abroad but I’ve never had the opportunity,” Fife told RugbyPass. “I’m so glad, because it’s given me this opportunity that might not have come around before.
“Playing at Edinburgh for nine, ten seasons, it’s definitely time to move on. I’ve done everything I can at Edinburgh now. I don’t think I can push myself much further than I have at Edinburgh.”
For much of Fife’s time at the club, Edinburgh seemed mired in a state of constant transition. The turnover of players has been vast. Alan Solomons inherited what Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson later called a “basket case” in 2013, blooded young Scots, but implemented a conservative blueprint that left Fife disillusioned. Edinburgh were outshone by a swashbuckling Glasgow side that thundered its way to a title.
Only since Richard Cockerill took the helm three years ago has there been huge and telling progress. When the Pro14 resumes later this month, Edinburgh are within touching distance of a home semi-final for the first time.
“We always thought that we had a really good squad, you were just kind of getting used to that squad, and then all of a sudden the whole place changes again,” Fife said. “Every pre-season we it felt like we were rebuilding rather than pushing on from what we’d learned the previous year. Different game plans, different ways coaches like to plan their weeks, so we always had to change.
“It always felt like we were trying to catch up with Glasgow, who were doing very well and still are. Their game was very similar to the way Scotland played, so whenever we Edinburgh players went to Scotland camps, we felt like we were playing catch-up in terms of the way we played.
“We did not play the most exciting style at times at Edinburgh, a lot of kicking, the crowd were getting a bit annoyed. As a winger and a back-three we were getting pretty annoyed as well. It wasn’t bringing the best out of us in those years but it looks like things are settling at the club and hopefully they’ll get to a semi-final in the league, so it’s brilliant.”
For all of the angst, Fife still broke into the Scotland squad, winning six caps under Scott Johnson and Vern Cotter and two more when Gregor Townsend took the team to North America in 2018.
But his greatest days and most cherished moments came in sevens, the glorious conquering of Twickenham in 2017 and 2018 when Scotland won their first World Series title and defended it a year later. Fife scored the winning try in the 2017 final and helped Scotland beat New Zealand en route to the 2018 crown – the first time any Scottish team had scalped rugby’s juggernaut.
“When I go to sevens, although it’s probably the hardest game in the world, it’s so enjoyable,” Fife said. “It’s a mixture of travel, awesome places, big games – I always get a huge buzz from it. When I came back to XVs, I felt like a new player.
“The 2017 final is, in terms of enjoyment, one of my proudest rugby moments; even the weekend before we could feel something building towards it. That group was really special. We enjoyed each other’s company so much that we felt something was going to happen. We stuck together for the next year and won it again, and a lot of people forget we beat New Zealand for the first time.”
These have been brutal months to enter the free agent market. Fife has known for some time that he would not be kept on at Edinburgh, but with the Covid-19 pandemic obliterating budgets and recruitment plans, there are so many talented players toiling without a club.
The Free Jacks have given Fife the chance he longed for, an exhilarating new chapter in Boston where sport and history are pillars of life.
“It was quite worrying, I was looking in France for a bit, but I really wanted to go to America, I was pushing my agency to try and get out there,” Fife revealed. “[Former Edinburgh centre] Sam Beard played for the Free Jacks last year, so he got in contact with me and one of the coaches months ago, they weren’t in the position to be able to do contracts then, so I just had to stay patient and just wait for my phone call. I’m delighted that it’s come round and it looks like an awesome opportunity.
“Ever since the MLR was announced, it was something that really excited me. I’ve played XVs and sevens in America, and rugby’s pretty fresh out there but the progress they’re making is rapid. The way you see the players playing, you’ve got internationals at the Free Jacks from Japan, Fiji, Americans, Canadians. It’s an awesome group of lads.
“The teams they’re adding to it, LA and Houston, chat about Hawaii, it’s only getting bigger and bigger. I honestly can’t see why it couldn’t be one of the major leagues in the world at some point. To get in early doors and hopefully make a good name for myself, it opens so many more opportunities than me going to France.”
The Free Jacks’ debut campaign in the ever-expanding league was cut short when the competition was cancelled after five rounds. While America flails amid the ongoing scourge of coronavirus, Fife will begin scaling up his training at home. He is due to fly out to Boston and begin pre-season in late November.
These club-less and rugby-free months, stressful though they have been, have also brought an unprecedented break from the rigors of the game. The scarcity has given his body a break and his mind the lust to play again.
“I don’t want to kill myself with fitness and all that yet,” Fife continued. “It’s the best I’ve felt in years with this rest. We always get four weeks off but in that, you’ve got your own programme to do, so you might only get two weeks of doing nothing.
“This is the longest I’ve ever been from school until now that I’ve not had a coach on my back and shouting at me, so it’s been quite nice. The bit I miss the most is being around all the boys, the changing-room banter after training and games, and that’s the same for most of us.
“The refreshing side of not having to put your body through that kind of training every day has been nice. But it’s getting to that time where I’m keen to get into it again, which is a good feeling to have, because I know I’m still hungry for it all.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Irish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to comments