Teague tips Fusaro as next to join paid ranks

THE new Scottish Hydro Electric rugby premiership gets underway this weekend with two burning questions.

Namely, can Boroughmuir retain their title and who will be the next Heriot's player off the conveyor belt to the professional ranks?

For an answer to the latter who better to ask than Marc Teague?

Appointed Heriot's captain until, last weekend, he finally fulfilled the dream of a professional deal at Edinburgh for himself, Teague had waved off a succession of club-mates from Goldenacre to the Celtic League or Guinness Premiership.

All the time this 27-year-old was building a dossier on what it would take to bridge the gap with the club scene based on playing alongside the likes of Simon Taylor, Gordon Ross, Bruce Douglas, Rory Lawson, Andy Dall, Rob Dewey, Nick De Luca, Andrew Easson, Geoff Cross, Matt Dey, John Houston, Ally Dickinson, Alan MacDonald, Calum Macrae, Scott Newlands and – more recently – Jim Thompson, Bruce McNeill, Fraser McKenzie and Steven Turnbull.

That makes 18 players in total during the Teague "era" with Graham Dall, Stuart Lang, Hugh Gilmour and Cammy Glasgow playing professionally out of Heriot's even earlier since amateurism was dropped in 1996. So, when Teague tips teenage flanker Chris Fusaro, pictured below, to be Heriot's pro No.25 it is as well to pay close attention to a man who says: "Chris was outstanding when he came to Heriot's last season."

By that stage, Fusaro had already made his mark by playing in two cup-winning teams at Murrayfield in the space of a fortnight when he turned out for Bell Baxter at schools level followed by Howe of Fife in the under-18 event.

What he achieved in his first season at Goldenacre, according to Teague, was initial experience of the senior game plus some extra polish. Chris has played well for the Scottish seven-a-side team and is now in the national academy. "When he turned out for an Edinburgh development team against Watsonians last week he showed why many people think he'll be next through the ranks.

"He has a bit of pace but it is his all round ball skills that really stand out whether playing blind-side or open-side flanker.

"If Chris wants to be next out of Heriot's to the pro ranks, though, he had better take his chance as there are plenty of others following behind."

On the subject of taking chances Teague knows that with a six-month contract there is little time to hang about in looking to impress. "It is 100 per cent the case that I have to get a move on if I am to extend my present deal but playing for Edinburgh is all I have wanted to do."

If there is a downside to winger Teague's elevation it is that he is obliged to turn down the chance of captaining Heriot's for a repeat season having led the club to the national Cup Final last year.

"I discussed the captaincy issue with Heriot's coach Bob McKillop and he has been very supportive about the fact that I have to concentrate all my efforts on trying to secure a place at Edinburgh. I couldn't have done both effectively."

Heriot's have until Saturday to come up with a replacement skipper when a home clash with Hawick will also signal the start of another race into the professional ranks – with Fusaro starting in pole position.