Scotland’s Luke Crosbie Eager to Reclaim Back-Row Position After Injury ‘Rollercoaster’

Luke Crosbie has expressed his strong desire to secure a place in Scotland’s back-row for the upcoming match against Portugal. His ambition comes after a period where injuries and intense competition for positions led to a decline in his standing within the national squad. Crosbie had previously started in Scotland’s victories over England and Wales during the 2023 Six Nations tournament. However, a shoulder injury sustained in February’s win in Cardiff, which occurred on the opening weekend, prematurely ended his participation in that year’s competition. This absence allowed the Glasgow Warriors trio of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, and Jack Dempsey to solidify their roles as the preferred back-row options at Test level. Crosbie subsequently returned to action during Scotland’s summer tour of the Americas. With Jack Dempsey now sidelined due to injury, potentially for the remainder of the Autumn Nations Series, an opportunity has emerged for the Edinburgh player to demonstrate his capabilities to head coach Gregor Townsend. Reflecting on his journey, Crosbie stated, “I’m just waiting for that green light to go out there and do my thing and get back in the mix.” He described the experience as challenging, saying, “It’s a rollercoaster. One minute you’re starting against Wales and the next minute you’re having to get your missus to help put your socks on. That’s part of the sport. It was tough.” He further elaborated on the mental impact of injuries: “You ride the emotion on the day. I want to put on a good performance to play the next week and then all of a sudden one knock, your whole mindset, thought process leading up to Six Nations completely changes. That’s it.” Despite the difficulties, Crosbie remains optimistic: “I’ve come back better from that. Now I’m just really focused on getting back out there, playing with a thistle on my chest and enjoying what I do.”