The Making Of Rory Darge

From North Berwick to Scotland co-captain by the age of 23-we chart the journey of the Glasgow back-row with the help of those in the know

- TOM ENGLISH

RORY DARGE became co-captain of his country at 23, a decision that came as a bolt from the blue for some but not to others. To those who know him best, there was a sense of destiny about it.

He only had 15 caps to his name when that appointment was made and had started only three Six Nations games, including his first Test start against France in 2022 when he was by a million miles the best Scot on the park. He scored a try that day and turned over French ball on four occasions.

An ankle injury cost him five months’ rugby in 2022 and 2023. Yet despite Darge’s inexperience and young age, Gregor Townsend couldn’t wait to have him back in the fold for the France game in week two of this year’s championship.

Hailing from golfing country in Aberlady in East Lothian and schooled in North Berwick, where he also began his rugby journey, Darge is not really the coming man, he’s the man who’s already arrived. We ask some men in the know to explain his qualities…

“They had a poor year the previous year and I got asked to come in as head coach for 2020. Connor Boyle (of Edinburgh) had been captain and he was a very talented player, but the burden was impacting on his game and I wanted to take some pressure off him.

“We wanted a guy who was reliable and who had a steely determination, and Rory was the obvious pick. He was a good ball-carrier, had good footwork, a strong defensive game and huge bravery over the ball. His rugby IQ was up there. He wasn’t a major talker – not many of them are at that age – but he was a listener. He was economical with his words but he said what needed to be said and he said it at the right time.