You wait most of the year for one to get back into action and then two Fagerson brothers come along at once…
Tighthead prop Zander’s return having widened Glasgow Warriors’ then Scotland’s options for the trip to France after he recovered from a broken ankle, younger brother Matt’s is set to do the same for the back-row over this weekend and next after he got back into action in the final quarter of last weekend’s defeat of Connacht.
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Sidelined since early January, the 20-year-old was pleased he was not out for longer after suffering a worrying-sounding injury.
“It has been a good week so far and it was good to get back out there the other night,” he said, as he prepared for what is likely to be a starting appearance against Zebre tomorrow.
“It was six weeks out in total until last weekend. I just caught my shoulder wrong and it was sort of hanging out and I couldn’t really feel my fingers. They said it was neurapraxia with the nerves in the shoulder so I just had to wait until they switched back on and then just rebuild my strength.
“It could have been 12 weeks, it could have been four. I could feel it gradually coming back.
“Probably in the first week and a half the feeling came back and then it was just a bit numb on the top. So, it has mainly been about rehab and physio.
“The physios were pretty good at telling me what was happening. I’ve never really had a shoulder injury as such. I’ve had stingers before but when my fingers started tingling I knew something wasn’t right.”
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Such is life in the high impact world of professional rugby, but as something of a rarity, a Scottish forward who was deemed sufficiently battle-hardened to play Test rugby while still in his teens, Fagerson exhibits the impatience of youth in assessing his last year, during which he has become an international player while going through very mixed emotions on all three occasions, with two disappointing defeats followed by a much shorter appearance than he had hoped to make.
“I feel like every time I get an opportunity something happens and I’m back to square one,” he said.
“I didn’t have the greatest [international] debut away in the USA, then I get an opportunity against Fiji and I’m off after 20 minutes.
“It has been awesome with Glasgow this year, playing against teams like Saracens and getting such good results in Europe, but it has been pretty frustrating on another level. Coming into the Six Nations and being laid off for six weeks is not ideal.”
Fagerson was mature enough to realise that there could be some benefits from the time out if he used it to best effect, however.
“It is easy for people to burn out, especially if they are heavily relied upon like Adam Ashe and Rob Harley – spending all week with Scotland and then coming back and putting 80 minute performances in every week for Glasgow. It can take its toll on the body,” he noted.
“So, I looked at it as a good chance to take a break. I had a few problems with my knees, so I could give them a rest and I feel good now coming back into it.”
Watching the way his older brother worked to return to the international arena earlier than expected when he took the field as a replacement against France last weekend was also inspirational.
“He’s worked incredibly hard to get back in time,” said Fagerson.
“He set his target for the Wales game, so he has been pretty dedicated in the gym and doing his running to be two weeks ahead of that. It has been pretty awesome watching him training and working so hard to come back early… it has given me motivation to come back as well.”
With the likes of last year’s Scotland skipper John Barclay and Glasgow co-captain Ryan Wilson still on the injured list, there could be an opportunity to join his brother in the match day squad against Wales if he can demonstrate a capacity to bring the sort of energy that was missing in Paris.
Fagerson is consequently hoping he now gets his chance to show he can do that from the off, having had the relatively easy task of returning to action with the team already in full flow last week, well on their way to what was a 43-17 win over Connacht that saw them close the gap to Conference A table toppers Munster to a single point..
““Ashy and the other boys in the team have been playing really well so it is difficult to come back in the team and stake a claim straight off, but fingers crossed,” he said.
“Last week was quite an easy game to come in to.
“The guys were firing and then the finishers came on to finish it off with Robbie Nairn scoring two. It was a pretty awesome game to come on and be a part of.It felt good. I made a few tackles and had a few carries.
“I just hope to play really well against Zebre and if anything comes off the back of that then happy days, but my focus is on trying to get back into Glasgow and playing well again.”
* Zander Fagerson’s Scotland rival Simon Berghan has agreed a new deal that will keep him at Edinburgh until at least 2021.
Capped 17 times for Scotland, Berghan, 28, started at tighthead prop in last weekend’s Six Nations meeting with France.
On extending his stay at the club, Berghan, said: “I’m delighted to be extending my time with Edinburgh and I’m looking forward to contributing to the club going forward.
“I’m excited to be a part of this team and I believe there is still more to come from this great group of players.”
Head Coach Richard Cockerill, added: “Simon is an integral part of the squad and has been a consistent performer for both club and country for a number of seasons.
“He brings a hard edge and strong level of physicality to this team, so we’re delighted that he’ll continue to represent this club in the years to come.”
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