50
impulse
Rise of the Falcon Often, those who face the most adversity have the highest ambition. In the unforgiving world of rugby, a young Scot is determined to overcome all obstacles.
Words by Gregor Trayner
I
n the summer of 2019, 20-year-old Robbie Smith was at a crossroads in his professional rugby career. Despite playing internationally for Scotland at every youth level, a lack of game time at Glasgow Warriors lead him to make the toughest decision of his life; leaving his family behind to move to RFU Championship side Bedford City Blues. It would be against eventual champions Newcastle Falcons where Smith would truly prove himself, with his outstanding performance against the North-East side prompting the newly-promoted club to go after the man who shone so brightly in opposition colours. Despite two seasons having passed, Smith’s stint at Bedford remains fresh in the memory, “I was able to fit into the squad really well. I ended up having a really good pre-season and kicked on from that…I was playing against some Premiership level players who were on loan, and it was a good level for me, so I knew here was a chance that I would get picked up. Luckily enough, we played Newcastle twice. I’d always planned to get back to the top level of rugby, luckily enough, they came knocking after a few decent games against them.” The move to Newcastle, however, has brought its own challenges. As Smith himself acknowledges,
the hooker position is arguably the most competitive in the team. Jamie Blamire has just been called up to the England squad, but his teammate stays focused. “I feel like the underdog. At the time, there wasn’t a contract for me in Scotland. My motivation now is to try and get to the Scotland National first team and (people will) be like ‘Oh shit, here’s Robbie Smith back again,’ rather than just being the guy who didn’t have an opportunity to sign for one of the professional teams in Scotland.” After the move, pre-season was looking bright, with Smith pushing for second spot in the hooker line. Disaster struck however, as a badly torn hamstring just prior to the season’s curtain raiser saw the Scot’s quest for solid game time curtailed. After five months of watching on from the sidelines, Smith would get his chance. A 74-3 victory for the
Exeter Chiefs left many dispirited, yet for one man, it was a milestone. “We got bit of a spanking to be fair, but I loved it,” Smith said. “To make my Premiership debut was quite a big moment for me and to play against a team of that level! You don’t get many chances to play against a team like that.” With his sights set firmly on the future, Smith turns his attention to this season. Now 23, the hooker is focused solely on playing as many games as he can both domestically and in Europe. His diligence and determination ensure that no matter what situation is thrown at him, he still finds a way to come out on top. This s perseverance makes him a perfect candidate for the Scotland squad in years to come, and his ability absolutely backs that up. He is a true ‘Comeback Kid,’ and is far from beyond the realms of possibility that he could walk out at Murrayfield in years to come.
“I feel like the underdog ... My motivation now is to try and get to the Scotland National Team”
