Kiwi Tweed expected to fit in well with 'Sonians

WATSONIANS will tonight get a first look at a new recruit who has flown across the world with impressive credentials to supplement their Scottish Hydro Electric rugby premiership campaign.

As a follow up to an opening-day win at Stirling the Myresiders are due to host Heriot's in a Capital derby on Saturday.

And that could be debut day for back five forward Andrew Tweed from New Zealand. Watsonian president Brian Drinkwater said: "Andrew has just arrived and is settling in but we look forward to seeing him in training while there is a chance of a back arriving from New Zealand also."

Captain Torrie Callander added: "Andrew has played to a good level in Dunedin and was on the fringes of the full Otago provincial side for a spell having played for them at B level. Having someone like Andrew around should certainly be a boost."

Watsonians have been well served by antipodean arrivals down the years and Callander feels that is a tribute to the club's scouting network.

"New Zealand has been pretty productive territory thanks partly to our previous coach Cammy Mather hailing from there. Cammy has enough contacts to ensure that anybody coming across to join Watsonians is a known quantity and our new coach, Bruce Aitchison, is also well connected to ensure we get quality recruits."

The message from 'Sonians is that a balance needs to be struck between drafting overseas players who can contribute to development and home grown talent, among whom rookie back rower Stuart McInally has entered the senior ranks with glowing reports.

Count among the teenager's biggest admirers Callander, who said: "Stuart has played three senior games for 'Sonians since leaving school and looks the real deal. I watched him play a couple of games last season and thought he'd make a big impact but he has surpassed even those expectations.

"At Stirling on Saturday Stuart ranked among the top three players on the field and his performance brought to mind a remark by one of his Watson's College coaches, Andrew Ker, when describing him as a man among boys. Stuart is equally comfortable carrying the ball or putting in big tackles and is typical of the new breed of players coming through.

"These lads have been encouraged since the age of about 11 or 12 to work on strength and conditioning whereas the previous generation had to play catch up."

"In the case of Stuart, though, the potential is there to travel a long way in rugby."

In going one better than last year when they lost their opening game, Callander admits Watsonians were probably better than first thought when defeating Stirling 42-28 in a five-try showing. He said: "Right after the game the feeling was that with a ridiculous amount of turnovers conceded by us we hadn't done very well.

"By the time Bruce Aitchison and I spoke 24 hours later the feeling was that maybe we'd been a bit too hard on ourselves.

"Reading the reports of all the games it seems everybody was affected by a bit of rustiness and maybe nerves in trying to get off on the right foot. Having said that there is still plenty of scope for improvement," warned the player who previously captained Kelso Harlequins as well as Borders under-16 and under-18 sides.

Now free from university studies – he graduated in the summer and is working on environmental matters at the Scottish Government – Callander, son of former Scotland captain, Gary, feels ideally placed to do justice to the "great honour" bestowed on him.

He said: "Whereas previously I had a lot of time to think about only rugby I'm striking a balance now and hopefully that will benefit the club and myself."