Richard Snedden has been looking back at his playing career which saw him learn from Chris Cusiter, win trophies with Boroughmuir and Currie and earn a number of Scotland Club XV caps.
Snedden, 32, has been one of the top scrum-halves in Scottish club rugby for more than a decade now, but his playing days look to have come to an end as he takes his first steps into coaching.
From the summer onwards he will be backs coach alongside newly appointed Watsonians head coach Steve Lawrie, but it was not an easy decision for him to leave Currie after 13 years of distinguished service.
It was at Boroughmuir where Snedden, who was educated at Boroughmuir High School and George Watson’s College, first cut his teeth in senior rugby.
He had come through the youth set-up at Boroughmuir and, in his first season in the senior game in 2002/03, was in and around the Boroughmuir first XV squad that won the title.
“As a youngster looking to make my way in the game to have players around me who were challenging at the top end of the league was great and Chris Cusiter was the first choice scrum-half at the time,” Snedden recounts.
“Just watching Chris at training and working with him helped me as a young guy and, of course, he went on to achieve a lot in his pro career as well as playing many times for Scotland.
“I enjoyed my time at Meggetland and had grown up there, but I needed more game time if I was to push for Scotland Under-21 honours. So in 2004 I moved up to Currie.
“As a young player, I guess you are always a bit nervous moving clubs. But Andy Nicol was coaching there at the time and he and the rest of the players made me feel really welcome straight away.”
Snedden, who went on to earn a number of Scotland Under-21 caps, became a member of the first XV squad straight away at Malleny Park and has not looked back since.
Over the past 13 years he has clocked up more than 250 appearances for the club and he played a major part in their title wins of 2006/07 and 2009/10. He was also involved when they lost the Scottish Cup final to Watsonians in 2005/06.
“Winning trophies is what it is all about and to go the whole season and finish the top of the pile in Scotland is pretty special and those are certainly days I will not forget,” Snedden said.
“The first time we won the league we had a big pack who did a power of work and made sure we had a lot of ball to play with while the second time we had a great all-round team and some wonderful talent who could score tries from all over the place.
“I have so many good memories of my time at Currie. I was lucky enough to play with some really talented guys and to watch people like Jonny Gray, Matt Scott, Tom Brown and James Johnstone do so well has been pleasing to watch.
“For me it was certainly not an easy decision to leave Currie. The club will always be special to me, but it is in good hands. Coaches Ben and Mark Cairns are very good at what they do and there are some great young players coming through.
“It is time for a new chapter for me, but I’d like to thank everyone at Currie for their support over the years while winning a number of Club XV caps was also special.”
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