‘I was thinking about a real job’ – Glasgow Warriors star reflects on unlikely rise after landing new deal
The former Exeter Chiefs prop was much closer to a career in law before Warriors and Scotland came calling
The path to becoming a professional rugby player in the modern game is usually a straightforward one for the majority who make the grade.
Identified at a young age and nurtured through academy and youth systems, future club and international stars often have their career trajectories mapped out well in advance. That was certainly not the case for Fin Richardson, despite his family connections to Scottish rugby.
The 27-year old, who has signed a one year contract extension with Glasgow Warriors, is the son of Guy Richardson - the former Head of Rugby Operations at the SRU and Director of Operations for the British & Irish Lions. His uncle, Jeremey Richardson, is also a former Scotland international having earned a single cap back in 1994.
‘Maybe it wasn’t going to happen’ - Glasgow Warriors and Scotland prop Richardson had doubts he would become a professional rugby player
Despite that legacy, the former Merchiston Castle pupil has revealed that he wasn’t sure he would pursue a career as a professional rugby player. It looked more likely that the law was his calling and Richardson joked that probably would have made his dad a lot happier.
Discussing his time at Exeter University, where he was studying to become a lawyer, the Warriors’ prop said: “There was a bit of keeping my hand in both jars going on. I picked Exeter because of the rugby programme, but I didn't necessarily head down there with an eye to joining the Chiefs.
“That was like a case of if I can show them at the university level that maybe they'd be interested, then that would be a bonus. But I was really thinking of knuckling down and getting a real job, as my dad would have put it.”
Discussing the influence of his dad and the role he had with Scottish Rugby during his youth, Richardson added: “I think he joined the Scottish national team as the manager in 2005, so that was a huge part of my childhood after he left the army, seeing him pitch side and going to all the home games.
“But coming into university at 20 years old, I was sort of thinking, maybe if this was going to happen, it would have already happened. But luckily I put out a few good performances during my time at university and got picked up off the back of it.”
Richardson focused on fundamentals with Glasgow Warriors with one eye on Scotland and 2027 Rugby World Cup
Glasgow are currently in South Africa as they get set for their second of two southern hemisphere fixtures in a top of the URC clash with Stormers on Saturday. Richardson is hoping that a strong showing to end the season could boost his chances of breaking into Gregor Townsend’s Scotland squad.
“I don't want to count my chickens till they've hatched,” said the front rower, who has one cap to his name so far. “I think my immediate goals are more closer to home, I want to keep playing for Glasgow, I want to finish off the season well, contribute however I can. Then if my performances have granted me the opportunity to play with Scotland then that's great.
“I want to be involved in the World Cup. That would be a real dream but I think for me personally the way that I will be able to do that is by keeping my focus more insular and knuckling down on the fundamentals of my game within the Glasgow Warriors structure and with any luck the rest will take care of itself.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.