After an unsettled few months in which he was released by Bath then snapped up by Montpellier on a short-term deal, D’Arcy Rae is happily ensconced at Edinburgh as the new URC campaign approaches.
His initial deal with the capital club, announced earlier this week, is only for the length of this season, and he is certainly taking nothing for granted beyond that. But, having ended eight years with Glasgow Warriors to join Bath in 2021, he is happy to be back on this side of the Border and clearly hopeful of becoming as established on the east coast as he once was in the west.
Beyond that, there is the ambition to add to the single Scotland cap he has won so far. At 28 he is approaching the time of life in which tighthead props usually reach their peak, and provided he gets consistent game time over the next few months, he will surely be considered, at least, by the national selectors.
But first things first, of course. He only joined up with Sean Everitt’s squad a few days ago, but is ready and eager to play, and seems likely to be named on the bench for tomorrow’s [Friday] home friendly against his old club Bath.
“I flew back in on Saturday night, in training Monday,” he explained yesterday. “It’s one of those ones - just get the head down and get to work, sort of thing. I’m ready to play.
“It’s good to be back. I had an interesting time over in France. It was a good experience. I’ve still got half my stuff over there, and the other half in Bath, so I’m just a rugby nomad at the minute. But I’m happy to come here and get going.
“I played a few games for Montpellier. It was a good experience to play in the Top 14 against La Rochelle and Toulouse, who are European champions and French champions. It was good fun.
“I was purely there for World Cup cover. I just wanted to go for the experience - I’ve always wanted to play in France. When I had the opportunity I thought ‘Why not?’”
Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium sits in the shadow of Murrayfield, where Rae made his Scotland debut. In the intervening four years he has become philosophical about the fact that a second cap has yet to come, but make no mistake, he still feels he has unfinished business with the national team.
“Yeah, of course I do. If they want me to be involved, I’ll be more than happy, excited.
“I played against Ireland here, I toured to Australia and Fiji, and I was involved in quite a few camps before that. Getting a cap was unbelievable - one of the best experiences of my life. Obviously I want to back it up - you always want to play more for your country.”
Edinburgh’s squad to play Bath will be named today, while Rae’s old club Glasgow will announce their side tomorrow for Saturday’s friendly against Ulster. The Warriors won their first pre-season outing at home to Zebre last week, when hooker Angus Fraser made his first appearance at Scotstoun, having only previously played three games on the road.
With George Turner and Johnny Matthews currently away on Scotland duty and due a break post-World Cup, and Fraser Brown expected to be out injured for several more months, Fraser could well become a regular in the matchday squad over the next couple of months. He has certainly been encouraged by head coach Franco Smith to believe that if his form is good enough he will get his chance.
“Fraser is still about - he’s doing lots of stuff with us, with lineouts and throw-ins,” the former Scotland Under-20 international said. “It’s unfortunate about his injury. And then with Johnny and George being away, it’s definitely an opportunity. Hopefully we can capitalise on it.
“Franco is really, really good - he always says that it doesn’t matter who you are or how many caps you have. If you’re a forward you’ll get the opportunity to play - he’ll pick everybody that’s in good form. So definitely if I can get my form going and I can get a good run at it, then I’ll be really pleased.”
