'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
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
7 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
7 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
7 Go to comments