July 31, 2025 • 32 mins
Greig Laidlaw’s rugby brain is one of the sharpest the game has ever seen. This episode dives into what really goes into being a captain, goal-kicker, and decision-maker at the highest level.
From his early days in Scotland to leading his country through epic Six Nations clashes, Laidlaw breaks down the pressure moments that defined him. He opens up about how to earn team trust, how to make calm calls when the crowd’s roaring, and why confidence isn’t always loud.
There’s deep insight here—not just about rugby but about leadership, discipline, and how to thrive under pressure. You’ll also hear about his best partnerships on the field, what makes a great scrum-half, and why preparation beats nerves every single time.
To find out more about these things, give Rugby Legends a subscribe and follow
Email us at contact@rugby-legends.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rugbylegends_podcast/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@rugby.legends.podcast
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0kZnO74lv26gUwcPqJrH99
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rugby-legends-with-arthur-dickins/id1816056223
Podcast Website - https://rugbylegends.podbean.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/rugby-legends-podcast/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker (00:02):
Hi everyone.
I'm Arthur Dickins and this ismy Rugby Legends podcast.
In each episode, interview anamazing rugby player or coach to
get their insight and advice foryoung rugby players just like me
who are keen to learn it better.
In this episode, I'm speakingwith Greig Laidlaw ex Edinburgh
Gloucester, Clermont.
(00:23):
And Scotland Scrum half.
Greig is a legend of theScottish game, a dynamic scrum
half and sometimes fly half, whowas also a first choice goal
kicker.
In 76 appearances for Scotland,he scored over 700 points.
Greig holds the record for themost appearances as a captain of
(00:46):
the Scotland men's team, he ledthe national side 40 times
between 2013 and 2019.
I hope you find Greig'sknowledge and wisdom as helpful
as I did.
Enjoy.
Arthur (01:03):
So Greig, how did you get into rugby and how old where
you when you started?
Greig (01:09):
I got into rugby probably 'cause of my family.
I have, I had three cousins, whowere all boys.
and they all loved the game.
and then I think I was about sixyears old, so I was pretty
young.
but yeah, I just loved the gamewhere I grew up in Scotland.
I thought it was like a, quite asmall community, and a lot of
(01:31):
the stuff revolved, around,around about rugby.
So yeah.
Great.
Some great memories.
Arthur (01:38):
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
And what other sports did youplay growing up and at what age
did you give them up for rugby?
Greig (01:46):
Yeah, I played lots of sports, which I truly believe is
a great thing.
I played football, golf, tennis,probably bit of badminton stuff
at school.
I played, yeah, so I playedquite a diverse range of sports.
I think I probably gave them upmaybe around 16, all the other
(02:09):
ones.
quite late.
I did like to try and play.
I, was gonna, I thought aboutplaying football at one point,
but I, stuck to rugby, but Istill try and play golf, now as
well, but not as good as I usedto.
And what about you, Arthur?
Do you play any other sports?
Arthur (02:26):
I play golf, cricket, rugby, hockey.
Greig (02:29):
That's, a good range.
I truly believe it's, youplaying lots of different
sports.
it's, you can also always learnsomething from, another sport.
So, it's a really good thing tobe able to do.
Arthur (02:42):
as you said, you played a load of sports.
What one was your favouriteexcept from rugby?
Greig (02:46):
yeah, either golf or football.
Prob probably golf, but I wasjust, never good enough.
I got a little bit frustrated attimes.
Arthur (02:55):
Did you have a handicap?
Greig (02:58):
Yeah, I did, at one point, I, played off eight.
was about the best I got downto, so what about yourself?
You got a handicap or?
Arthur (03:06):
yeah.
I'm 14.1.
Greig (03:09):
Oh 0.1, huh?
There you go.
That means you're definitelyinto it, if you're counting the
point ones.
What about your cricket or whatwhere you good at cricket?
Arthur (03:18):
yeah, I'm a all rounder in cricket.
okay.
Did you play cricket?
Nah, we, I never played atcricket, it's probably not
played as much up here, up here,but in, in Scotland, obviously
it's played loads here inAustralia.
but yeah, nah, I never playedmuch Thank you.
And when did you know that youwere really good at rugby?
Greig (03:39):
once you maybe start getting selected in a few
representative teams, somethinglike that, I ended up from
memory, playing for Scotlandunder eighteens or in my
regional area as well.
You get picked up for theeighteens, the under sixteens.
I think when you start to getasked to play in teams like
that, you realize you.
(04:00):
You, you've got some potentialobviously.
and, I think that was probablythe time I realised that.
And I was quite lucky I guesswhen I was growing up.
'cause obviously when I wasreally young, rugby wasn't
professional.
I think it turned professionalwhen I was about 10 years old in
1995.
So it was a great time for mebecause obviously I could see
the, evolution of, the game ofrugby going professional and
(04:24):
it's something I dreamed of.
I dunno what your aspirationsare, Arthur, and your dreams, if
you wanted to make it all theway to, to play rugby.
But obviously it's a bit morecommon nowadays, which is great,
isn't it?
Arthur (04:37):
Yeah.
Very great.
Thank you.
Greig (04:40):
Would you like, to play, Arthur?
Would you like to be aprofessional cricket or a rugby
player?
Arthur (04:44):
my dream is to be a rugby player! Greig, how
difficult was it to move betweenthe positions?
Greig (04:51):
Yeah, that's a good question.
I think It's, it's not easy attimes.
I think I, I always liked the,challenge of it and it was, it
was almost, it was good to,again, coming back to playing
different sports, playingdifferent positions.
I always enjoyed it'cause it wasa real challenge.
(05:12):
for myself, and I think, I wasvery fortunate.
I guess I was able to play bothnine, and 10 on, a few occasions
for Scotland.
And, and I played 10 forEdinburgh a little bit as well.
yeah, I really, enjoyed it.
I think sometimes with nine.
the position and all you'redoing is really running after
(05:33):
the ball and chasing the balland getting tired and passing.
So I think sometimes in thatnumber 10 position, it was, I
always liked it.
It was a little bit nicer.
You had a little bit, more timeto, to look around and, try and
help the team.
So it, was great to play acouple of different positions.
Arthur (05:49):
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
And as you said, you play loadof positions.
Which position did you enjoyplaying the most?
Greig (05:58):
I probably actually enjoyed playing number 10 more
than I did number ninesometimes.
probably'cause the reasons I'vejust explained.
I think you can sometimes, as Isaid, help the team a little bit
more.
and, sometimes you just get alittle bit more.
Time and space, to pick yourhead up, try and use your vision
(06:19):
and, vision was probably one of,one of the good skills, I was
able to pick up, over the years.
Do you have positions yet, inyour team?
Arthur (06:29):
Yes, I play.
Yeah, we do.
And I'm fly half as well.
Greig (06:33):
okay.
So stick at the fly half, butall the other sports that you're
play in, that's really gonnahelp because.
Your vision.
so somebody like Finn Smith,Finn Russell, these guys have,
they've also got great vision.
They can see things veryquickly.
So in your cricket and your,hockey seeing space, seeing the
ball that's gonna help you,
Arthur (06:53):
That's very helpful.
Thank you.
And what was your key strengthas a scrum?
Half.
Greig (06:59):
probably my key strength was.
tr trying to do the, probably mydecision making, so trying to do
the right thing, at the righttime.
I think I really had to workhard at, developing my game, my
passing, my kicking, thatprobably became a strength of
mine as well.
I.
but I think what I've pridedmyself on was my real decision
(07:22):
making, to really help the team,whether it's to, whether pass,
kick, run, whatever thatdecision is.
I, I really try to, make that areal strength of mine through
understanding the game.
Arthur (07:37):
As you said, you're a good kicker.
What was like your favouritekick and that you did the best?
Greig (07:42):
yeah, kicking.
Always enjoyed kicking, I think,for any, any youngsters, that's
a kicker if you can enjoy, whatyou're doing.
I think, eventually I was verylucky.
Obviously I got to play, infront of big, full stadiums and
a lot of people watching on thetv.
But I think if you can not thinkabout that and just keep
(08:05):
thinking about the skill andkeep enjoying the, skill that'll
really help you.
coming back to, oh, my favouritekick.
Probably, for Edinburgh, rugbyactually, we once played, Racing
Metro, up, up in Edinburgh.
and, from memory, the, game, thefinal score was I think 48
(08:26):
points to 47, and I was able tokick, when we were on 46, I
kicked the conversion to make it48 points to 47.
And, that one kinda sticks in mymind.
Arthur (08:37):
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
What was the hardest part aboutplaying Scrum Half?
Greig (08:43):
The hardest part about playing scrum half, I would say.
difficult to say the hardest,because you're touching the ball
so many times between the 9 andthe 10, you probably touched the
ball more times than anybodyelse in a game of rugby.
So I guess, that decisionmaking, it comes into the, back
(09:03):
into the equation.
I think, having good skillsbecause you're touching the ball
so many times, you don'tobviously wanna make, be making
too many errors.
So I think, yeah, probably.
And also fitness as well.
It's probably the hardest thingactually.
You gotta be, you probably oneof the fittest players on the
(09:24):
team.
So I think maybe, some peoplethat just, watch rugby on the
weekend, maybe don't appreciatea lot of the hard work that goes
in behind the scenes.
So probably within the number 9and the number, the fullback
15's, they probably, normally,sometimes depending the game
wingers, they clock up the most,meters probably in a, game of
(09:48):
rugby.
So the fitness is gonna be rightup there to be a halfback.
Arthur (09:52):
Can you tell us more about that?
Greig (09:54):
So what it looks like, or certainly now in the modern day,
players go all go through aBronco test.
so that is a test where prettymuch all team gets tested, but,
it's always good for the ninesand, the fifteens, as I said, to
probably finish out in front.
So you start on the try line,you run to 20 meters back to the
(10:18):
try, line out to the 40, back tothe try line out to the 60
meters, back to the try line.
and that's only one rep.
And you gotta do that five timesjust as quick as you can.
and that's basically most teamsuse that kind of test.
So there you go.
You can maybe try that.
I think you can get your, youand your teammates can try it.
Arthur (10:39):
that's what our coach at my club rugby actually
introduced a couple weeks ago.
Greig (10:46):
Oh, there you go.
Can you remember, did you get atime at all?
Arthur (10:48):
We all run as a team.
we have to do it after everytraining session, which isn't,
the best.
What's the best piece of advicea coach has gave you?
Greig (10:59):
just be yourself, I think is probably the best, one of the
best pieces of, myself, I don't,you pick up a lot of good things
over the years, but I think thatone of the most important things
being true to yourself.
and I think if, you had to coachonce, just, told me just to be
myself, just, play the game thatI think's right.
(11:22):
I think that's always reallystuck in my mind.
I really be myself.
I always enjoyed the game ofrugby, and so that's something
I, really tried to keep doing.
even playing, for Scotland,playing professionally.
I think the players that maybethink about it too much and
maybe, don't enjoy it, they'rethe ones that maybe don't play
the best.
So if you can really beyourself, enjoy the game, I
(11:45):
think it goes a long way toreally helping you become the
best player you can, become.
Arthur (11:50):
thank you.
And what rituals did you havebefore a game?
Greig (11:55):
I never had too many rituals before the game.
I was always to just try andrelax.
yeah, just relax.
Take my time, go through myroutine.
I was always, one of the, one ofthe first ones out there because
of my goal kicking.
So I'd go out probably beforethe team end up doing a little
bit of goal kicking and yeah,just try and relax.
(12:17):
Not, don't think too much.
Arthur (12:19):
Did you have any headphones on whilst you were
goal kicking or listen to anymusic?
Greig (12:24):
You've been watching Finn Russell too much?
no.
I never, and nah, I never, I wasa big, I was always a big
believer and I, couldn't wearheadphones in, the game of
rugby.
So I, like to really try andkeep as many things the same as
I could.
So get out there.
Imagine, that first kick of thegame, really trying to visualize
(12:47):
that first kick of the game in,my warmup preparation and, yeah,
and just be ready.
So no headphones for me.
Arthur (12:53):
that's very helpful.
Thank you.
You hold the record for the mostappearances as captain of the
Scotland Men's team, what wouldyou say makes a great captain?
Greig (13:04):
I think it's, somebody that leads by example, to be
honest, Arthur, I think it's,you don't wanna feel as though
you need to talk all the time.
especially, young leaders, Ibelieve sometimes fall into the
trap of, believing maybe theyhave to talk all the time and
they don't.
Sometimes it's good to stepback, allow other people to, to
(13:26):
lead as well.
And then again, it just comesback to what we talked about
before a little bit, If youcould, when I was captain, if I
could just be myself, keepenjoying the game, and then the
best version of myself wouldfollow and, ultimately that
makes me the best captain I canbe as well.
(13:47):
yeah, just, yeah, lead byexample.
Just be yourself.
Arthur (13:51):
Thank you.
And were there any mantras thatyou lived by?
Greig (13:57):
my preparation was really key to me.
in, in terms of, I didn't wantto go into any game, an
international game, any clubgame feel feeling unprepared.
I.
So that, that was probably oneof the, one of the key things
for me is if I felt I'd done,enough work, in the week, I'd
done all my, video analysis, allthat stuff, all my preparation
(14:21):
going into the game, that wasthe only really thing that I
lived by.
And then after that comes backto, I gave myself self
confidence by, by beingprepared.
and then again, because I wasself-confident, because I knew
I'd done all the preparationwork and I knew I couldn't have
done anything else, to preparemyself for that game, so I knew
(14:41):
I was ready and then I'd just goout there and enjoy it.
Arthur (14:45):
Thank you, and you played in some great teams,
which was the best team youplayed in, and what made them
great.
Greig (14:53):
I did, I was very fortunate, Arthur, as you say, I
played in some great teams.
I think any great team I thinkreally understands the, common
goal.
So obviously that common goalis, to win on the weekend or to
win a championship or, whateverthat is.
(15:13):
So I played in, a few reallygood Scotland teams.
the Lions team that I was partof in 2017.
it was a great team, as well.
I think there's so many greatplayers, and it's, great, isn't
it?
I think different characters aswell are celebrated within the
teams.
so that's what I liked about it.
(15:35):
But I think what makes a reallygreat team is everybody
understands the common goal, andwhy you're doing it.
A lot of the times people losewhy they're doing it.
And, I think that's one of thekey things is everybody
understands their why and theteam's why?
Because, I was at Clermont, downin France for a few years, for 3
(15:57):
seasons.
The second season I was inClermont we had a great year.
We made two finals.
We made the European ChallengeCup final and the top 14 final.
sadly we were, beaten in the top14 final, but we, managed to win
the European, challenge cup,thankfully.
and I think that season it wasreally clear.
(16:18):
Everybody was really, you couldjust tell everybody was really
determined and they're on thesame page.
So I think that what, that'swhat helps make a great team.
There's, many factors.
Arthur (16:28):
What a great trophy to win.
Greig (16:30):
I would've liked to have won the top 14 as well after.
I'm not gonna lie to you, butyou can't win them all.
Arthur (16:35):
Yeah, exactly.
How did you, bounce back after abad game?
Greig (16:41):
you can't be, you can't be upset at yourself, for too
long.
That's probably something whereI wasn't very good.
I was very, passionate and Ialways wanted to obviously do
well, like most people.
But I think that's something, Iprobably held onto for too long
(17:03):
because you are gonna have apoor performance.
sometimes it, it is just gonnahappen, we're, all human beings
and that's just part of life.
yeah.
It's just part of life.
So I think how I got to a pointwhere, I was able to say just
that acceptance.
I've had a poor game, sometimesthere's a reason, sometimes
(17:25):
there's not.
You just make a mistake or, andthen you end up, you're losing a
bit of confidence or you just goback to the, training field.
Really Arthur just as quickly asyou can focus on the next job
is, was always something I triedto, talk about.
if you have a poor game onSaturday, the next games come on
(17:45):
the following Saturday.
You just get your vision andyour mind and your thoughts.
The next game and, think aboutthat one because you know what's
just went past you.
The game that's just been playedwill, never ever be played
again.
And, thinking about it andbeating yourself up about it is,
not gonna help you performbetter in the next game.
Arthur (18:03):
That's very helpful.
Thank you.
And how did the level step upbetween club and country?
Greig (18:11):
I think everything, the best way to describe that maybe
is everything just probablyhappens a little bit quicker.
everybody's maybe got a littlebit better skills, and that's
collectively, obviously in theclub game, there's great players
as well, but I think it juststeps up a level so that, maybe
(18:32):
the, I'm getting, the scrumswill be slightly tougher.
the line outs will be slightlyquicker.
Movement, for example, there'llbe quicker players on average
across the field.
So everything's just happenedthat little bit quicker that
little bit faster.
You have to think quicker.
You gotta be, you gotta be oneof the players that's actually
making it, quicker to, be ableto, survive in that.
(18:55):
But it's, a great experience.
and, hopefully all your youngboys and girls hopefully
watching this podcast, are gonnabe able to experience in our
national rugby one day if you,stick in and, make it to the
top.
Arthur (19:12):
Thank you.
What was the biggest challengeyou faced as a rugby player?
Greig (19:17):
I never, I wasn't selected for, I was training
with the Scotland squad in 2011,I think it was before, the Rugby
World Cup.
I was in the extended squad.
and I wasn't selected, to go tothe rugby that Rugby World Cup.
and I was very disappointed andI was a little bit younger then,
and I think that was a point inmy career that I felt I could
(19:43):
either not quite give up, but Icould either just sit and be
comfortable and, be aprofessional and.
And get paid or I could say, I'mgonna prove some people wrong
and really try and push on andcertainly make it to the next
World Cup.
And, fortunately for myself, Iwas able to do that.
so there, there'll be setbacksalong the way, for everybody.
(20:06):
some will be bigger than others,but I think that's, it won't be
success certainly in rugby andprofessional rugby, it won't be
in a straight line.
It won't go from A to B, formost people, Arthur.
So it's, a great lesson that,your journey might go this way,
that way, But if you, strongenough in your mind and you
(20:27):
truly believe in yourself, youcan achieve what you want to
achieve.
Arthur (20:32):
Wow, that's very interesting.
Thank you.
As a scrum half, what otherposition on the rugby pitch did
you rely the most?
Greig (20:40):
Probably the whole forward pack, to be honest.
So if the forward pack can, giveyou some, nice ball, whether
that's, cleaniruckscks or, goodscrums, good, line outs, stuff
like that.
I think in terms ofcommunication wise, probably the
number 10 was very important.
(21:00):
But I think first and foremostfor, a scrum half if you forward
pack, giving you, nice ball.
So it's nice and fast.
and, modern rugby.
Now, it's, not maybe just theforwards, obviously people
cleaning rucks, but I'll stillstick with the forwards mate.
So if you can look after any ofthe young half backs, or if you
(21:22):
can look after the forwards, buy'em a few drinks, few coffees
here and there.
It'll go a long way.
Arthur (21:27):
I will thank you.
When you are a part of theScotland squad, how did you
handle competing for yourposition?
Greig (21:34):
Yeah, I think again, I maybe I wasn't very good at
this.
when I was a little bit younger,I think I, I was so focused, on,
my place that I think, sometimesthat maybe didn't help the team.
at times, if I wasn't selected,maybe, I was a bit upset and,
(21:56):
sometimes potentially.
You know that didn't actuallyhelp the team at times.
So I think it's great to becompetitive and you definitely
need that, in internationalrugby.
But I think sometimes, if you'renot selected, does your actions
or do your actions still helpthe team, in the lead up to the
(22:17):
game.
So I just having honestconversations as well with the
coach.
is a key thing to do around thatselection Arthur as well is
just, go on.
And if you're not selected, goand asking why and saying, okay,
if that's the reason why, thenyou know, I'm gonna work on
this.
yeah, it's, but beingcompetitive is something you
(22:39):
have to have, in internationalrugby.
So I, very much encourage thatcompetitive side.
Arthur (22:46):
Wow.
That's very helpful.
Thank you.
And what wisdom do you have nowthat you wished you had when you
started out in the game?
Greig (22:57):
Oh yeah, I was quite, I guess when I first came into the
Scotland team and stuff, I wasprobably, I.
Probably too emotional a littlebit in terms of, I sometimes got
caught up, certainly in myyounger, days.
As I said when I came into theScotland around, oh, I'm playing
(23:21):
for Scotland and we've gotta getreal emotive and, get up for
this game where sometimes youhave to have emotion.
I think you do anyway, but youhave to use it at the right
times and in the right waysbecause sometimes.
you're, you can almost blindyourself a little bit in terms
(23:41):
of when you're on that rugbyfield, you maybe start making
poor decisions because your headspace isn't that calm state of
mind.
So yeah, that's definitelysomething I learned over the
years and it's something that,that really helped me to be nice
and clear in my thoughts andcalm.
and using emotion, at the righttimes was a real key learning
(24:04):
for me, over the years.
Arthur, that's a good question.
Arthur (24:07):
How would you control your emotions?
Greig (24:10):
I was able to, or I was very lucky, I guess I was, given
help, by, a lot of people, fromdifferent fields.
in terms of, the military, I wasable to speak to people in the
military around, how theycontrol their emotions, mental
(24:31):
skills coaches, stuff like that.
I really enjoyed all that stuff,and because I was a goal kicker
as well, I think I had to learnto do that pretty quickly.
also in evidence, based aroundprocess.
So especially goal kicking.
If you were putting the ball onthat, tee, if I was in
(24:51):
Murrayfield Stadium, forexample, and there's 70,000
people, making noise and,chanting some or some of'em
cheering for you, some of'em aremaybe not cheering for you.
but if I start to worry aboutthe crowd, if I start to worry
about that external noise andpressure, or, perceived
(25:13):
pressure, because it's reallyjust the perception, pressure.
then maybe I'm gonna miss thatkick.
If, I just worry about myprocess, think about my skill,
if I can stay, present withinthe game of rugby.
if I, again, to use as anexample, if, I'm in Murrayfield
Stadium, if I'm, really clear inmy mind, if I can look up and I
(25:34):
can see the.
The clock, the 32 minutesplayed, okay, the 32 minutes
played.
This is the score line.
what's my next job?
And be really clear.
Then just be present aroundbeing a really good, rugby
player.
Arthur (25:48):
Thank you.
And, what was, what do you missmost about playing rugby?
Greig (25:54):
Yeah, that's, I think I missed the changing room
probably Arthur, in terms ofthe, the, I'm sure you guys, at
your club at the moment, I'msure you have a bit of fun and
some laughs and, stuff likethat, which I hope you do.
I think that's what anybody willmiss the most.
(26:15):
It's because it's funny becausewhen you become a professional
rugby player, That environmentpretty much becomes your life
really, because you do it mostdays.
so it, it can become a bit of ashock, when you come out the
other side and you don't havethat network, round about you.
So it's, important to, I'm veryfortunate, I've got a beautiful
(26:38):
wife and three, three youngkids, three young boys Arthur,
that keep me very busy.
So I've got other things toworry about, which is great.
But, definitely the changingroom, would be what, I would
miss the most.
Arthur (26:51):
Do your kids play rugby?
Greig (26:53):
Yeah, they do.
My, my two big boys do anyway.
I've got, my oldest, he's 10 andnearly 11, so they play, Rudy,
he's called Rocko, they bothplay there 10 and eight.
So they both play in Japan,we're currently still over in
Japan.
but my little man's only littleMax is only two.
(27:16):
So I'm sure watching hisbrothers mate, he'll be, the
next one to start playing thegame as well.
Arthur (27:21):
Wow, thank you.
And how did you cope with yournerves before a game, and what
kind of techniques did you use?
Greig (27:29):
I think that's probably coming back to a little bit of
that, that mental skills, stuffthat, that we touched on.
and probably also thatpreparation.
I guess as well if you feelreally prepared, and really you
need to try and again, it's likegoal kicking and stuff, the
(27:50):
human brain tell, if you were agoal kicker, the first thing the
human brain will tell you isdon't miss.
And that's the last thing youneed, to be thinking about.
So you're having a real,positive mindset, around you
going and, playing the game.
look forward to the challenge.
(28:10):
So if you are in the tunnel and,a big test match, you gotta be
looking forward to thatchallenge.
You don't want to be thinking,oh, I don't wanna run on this
field.
what if I make a mistake orsomething like that?
I think you.
You trust your process, trustyour preparation.
Don't worry about makingmistakes.
And if you can do that, you cancontrol your, real, a real
(28:32):
positive mindset, for yourself.
That's the key.
Arthur (28:36):
Thank you.
And what legacy do you feel youhave left in the game from
playing your rugby days?
Greig (28:42):
I'd always just try to be the, best version of myself,
Arthur, that was what I was allabout.
I think I was always willing to,to give my time, especially to
young players, to really help'em, so hopefully my legacy
around the players, the clubsI've been involved with is a
real positive one.
(29:03):
And I always try to make anyenvironment I, I went into, are,
definitely try to make itbetter.
I can feel real confident, aboutsaying things like that.
I tried my hardest, but that'sall you can do at the end of the
day, mate, is try your hardest,have fun, try and take people
(29:25):
along with you as well.
if you can encourage, if you'vegot great behaviors, if you can
encourage a few other teammatesto do the same.
I think that's a great lesson.
And because the more people youhave with, excellent behaviors,
then the chances are theenvironment that, that you're in
or you're creating is gonna be abetter one.
(29:47):
Yeah, it's hopefully youngfellas, young boys and girls
these days set of greatenvironments and really enjoy it
and help each other.
Arthur (29:55):
Wow.
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
So Greig, what was yourfavourite match you've ever
played in?
Greig (30:02):
maybe, Arthur was when we won the Calcutta cup 2018.
Yeah, sorry about that.
But we, beat England.
Scotland, be England that day.
It's probably my favourite one.
Arthur (30:12):
why was it your favourite?
Greig (30:14):
we hadn't beaten England for a long time.
and I think we played reallywell that day.
Up, in Scotland, up inMurrayfield.
So yeah, that was probably why.
Arthur (30:22):
what's your favourite trophy you've ever won since
you've won quite a lot?
Greig (30:26):
yeah, Calcutta Cup, that's a great trophy to win
when you play against England.
It was great to win a trophywith Clermont sadly, as I said,
it wasn't the top 14.
We won the challenge cup.
also won the challenge cup withGloucester.
Arthur (30:42):
Thank you.
And who was your favouriteplayer growing up?
Greig (30:46):
My favourite player growing up was, was George
Gregan actually, Australianplayer, used to play halfback,
for Australia.
Excellent player.
he was like, he was, quitesmall.
I.
That's maybe what, attracted, meto, to watching him.
And, but he was, really a reallysmart player.
(31:07):
and he was coming through andplaying for Australia when I was
starting to, watch the,Tri-Nations as it was back then.
So he was a, he was my favouriteplayer when I was growing up.
Arthur (31:17):
And what was your favourite try or conversion?
Greig (31:21):
I scored a try for Scotland against, Samoa in the
2015 World Cup up in Newcastle.
and maybe thinking back maybethat was probably my favourite
try was the game was probably abit closer than that, than we
would've hoped that day, but weprobably never played our best
game.
But yeah, I was able to scorethere and really help the team.
And yeah, that was probably theone that sticks in my mind.
Arthur (31:43):
Thank you and thanks so much for being on my podcast.
I really appreciate it.
And.
Who of your rugby mates wouldyou say would be great on my
podcast?
Greig (31:52):
If you could get hold of Finn Russell, Finn would be
good.
Arthur (31:54):
And thanks so much, I really appreciate taking your
time to be on my podcast.
Thank you.
Greig (31:59):
No problem.
Pleasure, mate.
Hi everyone.
I'm Arthur Dickins and this ismy Rugby Legends podcast.
In each episode, interview anamazing rugby player or coach to
get their insight and advice foryoung rugby players just like me
who are keen to learn it better.
In this episode, I'm speakingwith Greig Laidlaw ex Edinburgh
Gloucester, Clermont.
(00:23):
And Scotland Scrum half.
Greig is a legend of theScottish game, a dynamic scrum
half and sometimes fly half, whowas also a first choice goal
kicker.
In 76 appearances for Scotland,he scored over 700 points.
Greig holds the record for themost appearances as a captain of
(00:46):
the Scotland men's team, he ledthe national side 40 times
between 2013 and 2019.
I hope you find Greig'sknowledge and wisdom as helpful
as I did.
Enjoy.
Arthur (01:03):
So Greig, how did you get into rugby and how old where
you when you started?
Greig (01:09):
I got into rugby probably 'cause of my family.
I have, I had three cousins, whowere all boys.
and they all loved the game.
and then I think I was about sixyears old, so I was pretty
young.
but yeah, I just loved the gamewhere I grew up in Scotland.
I thought it was like a, quite asmall community, and a lot of
(01:31):
the stuff revolved, around,around about rugby.
So yeah.
Great.
Some great memories.
Arthur (01:38):
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
And what other sports did youplay growing up and at what age
did you give them up for rugby?
Greig (01:46):
Yeah, I played lots of sports, which I truly believe is
a great thing.
I played football, golf, tennis,probably bit of badminton stuff
at school.
I played, yeah, so I playedquite a diverse range of sports.
I think I probably gave them upmaybe around 16, all the other
(02:09):
ones.
quite late.
I did like to try and play.
I, was gonna, I thought aboutplaying football at one point,
but I, stuck to rugby, but Istill try and play golf, now as
well, but not as good as I usedto.
And what about you, Arthur?
Do you play any other sports?
Arthur (02:26):
I play golf, cricket, rugby, hockey.
Greig (02:29):
That's, a good range.
I truly believe it's, youplaying lots of different
sports.
it's, you can also always learnsomething from, another sport.
So, it's a really good thing tobe able to do.
Arthur (02:42):
as you said, you played a load of sports.
What one was your favouriteexcept from rugby?
Greig (02:46):
yeah, either golf or football.
Prob probably golf, but I wasjust, never good enough.
I got a little bit frustrated attimes.
Arthur (02:55):
Did you have a handicap?
Greig (02:58):
Yeah, I did, at one point, I, played off eight.
was about the best I got downto, so what about yourself?
You got a handicap or?
Arthur (03:06):
yeah.
I'm 14.1.
Greig (03:09):
Oh 0.1, huh?
There you go.
That means you're definitelyinto it, if you're counting the
point ones.
What about your cricket or whatwhere you good at cricket?
Arthur (03:18):
yeah, I'm a all rounder in cricket.
okay.
Did you play cricket?
Nah, we, I never played atcricket, it's probably not
played as much up here, up here,but in, in Scotland, obviously
it's played loads here inAustralia.
but yeah, nah, I never playedmuch Thank you.
And when did you know that youwere really good at rugby?
Greig (03:39):
once you maybe start getting selected in a few
representative teams, somethinglike that, I ended up from
memory, playing for Scotlandunder eighteens or in my
regional area as well.
You get picked up for theeighteens, the under sixteens.
I think when you start to getasked to play in teams like
that, you realize you.
(04:00):
You, you've got some potentialobviously.
and, I think that was probablythe time I realised that.
And I was quite lucky I guesswhen I was growing up.
'cause obviously when I wasreally young, rugby wasn't
professional.
I think it turned professionalwhen I was about 10 years old in
1995.
So it was a great time for mebecause obviously I could see
the, evolution of, the game ofrugby going professional and
(04:24):
it's something I dreamed of.
I dunno what your aspirationsare, Arthur, and your dreams, if
you wanted to make it all theway to, to play rugby.
But obviously it's a bit morecommon nowadays, which is great,
isn't it?
Arthur (04:37):
Yeah.
Very great.
Thank you.
Greig (04:40):
Would you like, to play, Arthur?
Would you like to be aprofessional cricket or a rugby
player?
Arthur (04:44):
my dream is to be a rugby player! Greig, how
difficult was it to move betweenthe positions?
Greig (04:51):
Yeah, that's a good question.
I think It's, it's not easy attimes.
I think I, I always liked the,challenge of it and it was, it
was almost, it was good to,again, coming back to playing
different sports, playingdifferent positions.
I always enjoyed it'cause it wasa real challenge.
(05:12):
for myself, and I think, I wasvery fortunate.
I guess I was able to play bothnine, and 10 on, a few occasions
for Scotland.
And, and I played 10 forEdinburgh a little bit as well.
yeah, I really, enjoyed it.
I think sometimes with nine.
the position and all you'redoing is really running after
(05:33):
the ball and chasing the balland getting tired and passing.
So I think sometimes in thatnumber 10 position, it was, I
always liked it.
It was a little bit nicer.
You had a little bit, more timeto, to look around and, try and
help the team.
So it, was great to play acouple of different positions.
Arthur (05:49):
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
And as you said, you play loadof positions.
Which position did you enjoyplaying the most?
Greig (05:58):
I probably actually enjoyed playing number 10 more
than I did number ninesometimes.
probably'cause the reasons I'vejust explained.
I think you can sometimes, as Isaid, help the team a little bit
more.
and, sometimes you just get alittle bit more.
Time and space, to pick yourhead up, try and use your vision
(06:19):
and, vision was probably one of,one of the good skills, I was
able to pick up, over the years.
Do you have positions yet, inyour team?
Arthur (06:29):
Yes, I play.
Yeah, we do.
And I'm fly half as well.
Greig (06:33):
okay.
So stick at the fly half, butall the other sports that you're
play in, that's really gonnahelp because.
Your vision.
so somebody like Finn Smith,Finn Russell, these guys have,
they've also got great vision.
They can see things veryquickly.
So in your cricket and your,hockey seeing space, seeing the
ball that's gonna help you,
Arthur (06:53):
That's very helpful.
Thank you.
And what was your key strengthas a scrum?
Half.
Greig (06:59):
probably my key strength was.
tr trying to do the, probably mydecision making, so trying to do
the right thing, at the righttime.
I think I really had to workhard at, developing my game, my
passing, my kicking, thatprobably became a strength of
mine as well.
I.
but I think what I've pridedmyself on was my real decision
(07:22):
making, to really help the team,whether it's to, whether pass,
kick, run, whatever thatdecision is.
I, I really try to, make that areal strength of mine through
understanding the game.
Arthur (07:37):
As you said, you're a good kicker.
What was like your favouritekick and that you did the best?
Greig (07:42):
yeah, kicking.
Always enjoyed kicking, I think,for any, any youngsters, that's
a kicker if you can enjoy, whatyou're doing.
I think, eventually I was verylucky.
Obviously I got to play, infront of big, full stadiums and
a lot of people watching on thetv.
But I think if you can not thinkabout that and just keep
(08:05):
thinking about the skill andkeep enjoying the, skill that'll
really help you.
coming back to, oh, my favouritekick.
Probably, for Edinburgh, rugbyactually, we once played, Racing
Metro, up, up in Edinburgh.
and, from memory, the, game, thefinal score was I think 48
(08:26):
points to 47, and I was able tokick, when we were on 46, I
kicked the conversion to make it48 points to 47.
And, that one kinda sticks in mymind.
Arthur (08:37):
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
What was the hardest part aboutplaying Scrum Half?
Greig (08:43):
The hardest part about playing scrum half, I would say.
difficult to say the hardest,because you're touching the ball
so many times between the 9 andthe 10, you probably touched the
ball more times than anybodyelse in a game of rugby.
So I guess, that decisionmaking, it comes into the, back
(09:03):
into the equation.
I think, having good skillsbecause you're touching the ball
so many times, you don'tobviously wanna make, be making
too many errors.
So I think, yeah, probably.
And also fitness as well.
It's probably the hardest thingactually.
You gotta be, you probably oneof the fittest players on the
(09:24):
team.
So I think maybe, some peoplethat just, watch rugby on the
weekend, maybe don't appreciatea lot of the hard work that goes
in behind the scenes.
So probably within the number 9and the number, the fullback
15's, they probably, normally,sometimes depending the game
wingers, they clock up the most,meters probably in a, game of
(09:48):
rugby.
So the fitness is gonna be rightup there to be a halfback.
Arthur (09:52):
Can you tell us more about that?
Greig (09:54):
So what it looks like, or certainly now in the modern day,
players go all go through aBronco test.
so that is a test where prettymuch all team gets tested, but,
it's always good for the ninesand, the fifteens, as I said, to
probably finish out in front.
So you start on the try line,you run to 20 meters back to the
(10:18):
try, line out to the 40, back tothe try line out to the 60
meters, back to the try line.
and that's only one rep.
And you gotta do that five timesjust as quick as you can.
and that's basically most teamsuse that kind of test.
So there you go.
You can maybe try that.
I think you can get your, youand your teammates can try it.
Arthur (10:39):
that's what our coach at my club rugby actually
introduced a couple weeks ago.
Greig (10:46):
Oh, there you go.
Can you remember, did you get atime at all?
Arthur (10:48):
We all run as a team.
we have to do it after everytraining session, which isn't,
the best.
What's the best piece of advicea coach has gave you?
Greig (10:59):
just be yourself, I think is probably the best, one of the
best pieces of, myself, I don't,you pick up a lot of good things
over the years, but I think thatone of the most important things
being true to yourself.
and I think if, you had to coachonce, just, told me just to be
myself, just, play the game thatI think's right.
(11:22):
I think that's always reallystuck in my mind.
I really be myself.
I always enjoyed the game ofrugby, and so that's something
I, really tried to keep doing.
even playing, for Scotland,playing professionally.
I think the players that maybethink about it too much and
maybe, don't enjoy it, they'rethe ones that maybe don't play
the best.
So if you can really beyourself, enjoy the game, I
(11:45):
think it goes a long way toreally helping you become the
best player you can, become.
Arthur (11:50):
thank you.
And what rituals did you havebefore a game?
Greig (11:55):
I never had too many rituals before the game.
I was always to just try andrelax.
yeah, just relax.
Take my time, go through myroutine.
I was always, one of the, one ofthe first ones out there because
of my goal kicking.
So I'd go out probably beforethe team end up doing a little
bit of goal kicking and yeah,just try and relax.
(12:17):
Not, don't think too much.
Arthur (12:19):
Did you have any headphones on whilst you were
goal kicking or listen to anymusic?
Greig (12:24):
You've been watching Finn Russell too much?
no.
I never, and nah, I never, I wasa big, I was always a big
believer and I, couldn't wearheadphones in, the game of
rugby.
So I, like to really try andkeep as many things the same as
I could.
So get out there.
Imagine, that first kick of thegame, really trying to visualize
(12:47):
that first kick of the game in,my warmup preparation and, yeah,
and just be ready.
So no headphones for me.
Arthur (12:53):
that's very helpful.
Thank you.
You hold the record for the mostappearances as captain of the
Scotland Men's team, what wouldyou say makes a great captain?
Greig (13:04):
I think it's, somebody that leads by example, to be
honest, Arthur, I think it's,you don't wanna feel as though
you need to talk all the time.
especially, young leaders, Ibelieve sometimes fall into the
trap of, believing maybe theyhave to talk all the time and
they don't.
Sometimes it's good to stepback, allow other people to, to
(13:26):
lead as well.
And then again, it just comesback to what we talked about
before a little bit, If youcould, when I was captain, if I
could just be myself, keepenjoying the game, and then the
best version of myself wouldfollow and, ultimately that
makes me the best captain I canbe as well.
(13:47):
yeah, just, yeah, lead byexample.
Just be yourself.
Arthur (13:51):
Thank you.
And were there any mantras thatyou lived by?
Greig (13:57):
my preparation was really key to me.
in, in terms of, I didn't wantto go into any game, an
international game, any clubgame feel feeling unprepared.
I.
So that, that was probably oneof the, one of the key things
for me is if I felt I'd done,enough work, in the week, I'd
done all my, video analysis, allthat stuff, all my preparation
(14:21):
going into the game, that wasthe only really thing that I
lived by.
And then after that comes backto, I gave myself self
confidence by, by beingprepared.
and then again, because I wasself-confident, because I knew
I'd done all the preparationwork and I knew I couldn't have
done anything else, to preparemyself for that game, so I knew
(14:41):
I was ready and then I'd just goout there and enjoy it.
Arthur (14:45):
Thank you, and you played in some great teams,
which was the best team youplayed in, and what made them
great.
Greig (14:53):
I did, I was very fortunate, Arthur, as you say, I
played in some great teams.
I think any great team I thinkreally understands the, common
goal.
So obviously that common goalis, to win on the weekend or to
win a championship or, whateverthat is.
(15:13):
So I played in, a few reallygood Scotland teams.
the Lions team that I was partof in 2017.
it was a great team, as well.
I think there's so many greatplayers, and it's, great, isn't
it?
I think different characters aswell are celebrated within the
teams.
so that's what I liked about it.
(15:35):
But I think what makes a reallygreat team is everybody
understands the common goal, andwhy you're doing it.
A lot of the times people losewhy they're doing it.
And, I think that's one of thekey things is everybody
understands their why and theteam's why?
Because, I was at Clermont, downin France for a few years, for 3
(15:57):
seasons.
The second season I was inClermont we had a great year.
We made two finals.
We made the European ChallengeCup final and the top 14 final.
sadly we were, beaten in the top14 final, but we, managed to win
the European, challenge cup,thankfully.
and I think that season it wasreally clear.
(16:18):
Everybody was really, you couldjust tell everybody was really
determined and they're on thesame page.
So I think that what, that'swhat helps make a great team.
There's, many factors.
Arthur (16:28):
What a great trophy to win.
Greig (16:30):
I would've liked to have won the top 14 as well after.
I'm not gonna lie to you, butyou can't win them all.
Arthur (16:35):
Yeah, exactly.
How did you, bounce back after abad game?
Greig (16:41):
you can't be, you can't be upset at yourself, for too
long.
That's probably something whereI wasn't very good.
I was very, passionate and Ialways wanted to obviously do
well, like most people.
But I think that's something, Iprobably held onto for too long
(17:03):
because you are gonna have apoor performance.
sometimes it, it is just gonnahappen, we're, all human beings
and that's just part of life.
yeah.
It's just part of life.
So I think how I got to a pointwhere, I was able to say just
that acceptance.
I've had a poor game, sometimesthere's a reason, sometimes
(17:25):
there's not.
You just make a mistake or, andthen you end up, you're losing a
bit of confidence or you just goback to the, training field.
Really Arthur just as quickly asyou can focus on the next job
is, was always something I triedto, talk about.
if you have a poor game onSaturday, the next games come on
(17:45):
the following Saturday.
You just get your vision andyour mind and your thoughts.
The next game and, think aboutthat one because you know what's
just went past you.
The game that's just been playedwill, never ever be played
again.
And, thinking about it andbeating yourself up about it is,
not gonna help you performbetter in the next game.
Arthur (18:03):
That's very helpful.
Thank you.
And how did the level step upbetween club and country?
Greig (18:11):
I think everything, the best way to describe that maybe
is everything just probablyhappens a little bit quicker.
everybody's maybe got a littlebit better skills, and that's
collectively, obviously in theclub game, there's great players
as well, but I think it juststeps up a level so that, maybe
(18:32):
the, I'm getting, the scrumswill be slightly tougher.
the line outs will be slightlyquicker.
Movement, for example, there'llbe quicker players on average
across the field.
So everything's just happenedthat little bit quicker that
little bit faster.
You have to think quicker.
You gotta be, you gotta be oneof the players that's actually
making it, quicker to, be ableto, survive in that.
(18:55):
But it's, a great experience.
and, hopefully all your youngboys and girls hopefully
watching this podcast, are gonnabe able to experience in our
national rugby one day if you,stick in and, make it to the
top.
Arthur (19:12):
Thank you.
What was the biggest challengeyou faced as a rugby player?
Greig (19:17):
I never, I wasn't selected for, I was training
with the Scotland squad in 2011,I think it was before, the Rugby
World Cup.
I was in the extended squad.
and I wasn't selected, to go tothe rugby that Rugby World Cup.
and I was very disappointed andI was a little bit younger then,
and I think that was a point inmy career that I felt I could
(19:43):
either not quite give up, but Icould either just sit and be
comfortable and, be aprofessional and.
And get paid or I could say, I'mgonna prove some people wrong
and really try and push on andcertainly make it to the next
World Cup.
And, fortunately for myself, Iwas able to do that.
so there, there'll be setbacksalong the way, for everybody.
(20:06):
some will be bigger than others,but I think that's, it won't be
success certainly in rugby andprofessional rugby, it won't be
in a straight line.
It won't go from A to B, formost people, Arthur.
So it's, a great lesson that,your journey might go this way,
that way, But if you, strongenough in your mind and you
(20:27):
truly believe in yourself, youcan achieve what you want to
achieve.
Arthur (20:32):
Wow, that's very interesting.
Thank you.
As a scrum half, what otherposition on the rugby pitch did
you rely the most?
Greig (20:40):
Probably the whole forward pack, to be honest.
So if the forward pack can, giveyou some, nice ball, whether
that's, cleaniruckscks or, goodscrums, good, line outs, stuff
like that.
I think in terms ofcommunication wise, probably the
number 10 was very important.
(21:00):
But I think first and foremostfor, a scrum half if you forward
pack, giving you, nice ball.
So it's nice and fast.
and, modern rugby.
Now, it's, not maybe just theforwards, obviously people
cleaning rucks, but I'll stillstick with the forwards mate.
So if you can look after any ofthe young half backs, or if you
(21:22):
can look after the forwards, buy'em a few drinks, few coffees
here and there.
It'll go a long way.
Arthur (21:27):
I will thank you.
When you are a part of theScotland squad, how did you
handle competing for yourposition?
Greig (21:34):
Yeah, I think again, I maybe I wasn't very good at
this.
when I was a little bit younger,I think I, I was so focused, on,
my place that I think, sometimesthat maybe didn't help the team.
at times, if I wasn't selected,maybe, I was a bit upset and,
(21:56):
sometimes potentially.
You know that didn't actuallyhelp the team at times.
So I think it's great to becompetitive and you definitely
need that, in internationalrugby.
But I think sometimes, if you'renot selected, does your actions
or do your actions still helpthe team, in the lead up to the
(22:17):
game.
So I just having honestconversations as well with the
coach.
is a key thing to do around thatselection Arthur as well is
just, go on.
And if you're not selected, goand asking why and saying, okay,
if that's the reason why, thenyou know, I'm gonna work on
this.
yeah, it's, but beingcompetitive is something you
(22:39):
have to have, in internationalrugby.
So I, very much encourage thatcompetitive side.
Arthur (22:46):
Wow.
That's very helpful.
Thank you.
And what wisdom do you have nowthat you wished you had when you
started out in the game?
Greig (22:57):
Oh yeah, I was quite, I guess when I first came into the
Scotland team and stuff, I wasprobably, I.
Probably too emotional a littlebit in terms of, I sometimes got
caught up, certainly in myyounger, days.
As I said when I came into theScotland around, oh, I'm playing
(23:21):
for Scotland and we've gotta getreal emotive and, get up for
this game where sometimes youhave to have emotion.
I think you do anyway, but youhave to use it at the right
times and in the right waysbecause sometimes.
you're, you can almost blindyourself a little bit in terms
(23:41):
of when you're on that rugbyfield, you maybe start making
poor decisions because your headspace isn't that calm state of
mind.
So yeah, that's definitelysomething I learned over the
years and it's something that,that really helped me to be nice
and clear in my thoughts andcalm.
and using emotion, at the righttimes was a real key learning
(24:04):
for me, over the years.
Arthur, that's a good question.
Arthur (24:07):
How would you control your emotions?
Greig (24:10):
I was able to, or I was very lucky, I guess I was, given
help, by, a lot of people, fromdifferent fields.
in terms of, the military, I wasable to speak to people in the
military around, how theycontrol their emotions, mental
(24:31):
skills coaches, stuff like that.
I really enjoyed all that stuff,and because I was a goal kicker
as well, I think I had to learnto do that pretty quickly.
also in evidence, based aroundprocess.
So especially goal kicking.
If you were putting the ball onthat, tee, if I was in
(24:51):
Murrayfield Stadium, forexample, and there's 70,000
people, making noise and,chanting some or some of'em
cheering for you, some of'em aremaybe not cheering for you.
but if I start to worry aboutthe crowd, if I start to worry
about that external noise andpressure, or, perceived
(25:13):
pressure, because it's reallyjust the perception, pressure.
then maybe I'm gonna miss thatkick.
If, I just worry about myprocess, think about my skill,
if I can stay, present withinthe game of rugby.
if I, again, to use as anexample, if, I'm in Murrayfield
Stadium, if I'm, really clear inmy mind, if I can look up and I
(25:34):
can see the.
The clock, the 32 minutesplayed, okay, the 32 minutes
played.
This is the score line.
what's my next job?
And be really clear.
Then just be present aroundbeing a really good, rugby
player.
Arthur (25:48):
Thank you.
And, what was, what do you missmost about playing rugby?
Greig (25:54):
Yeah, that's, I think I missed the changing room
probably Arthur, in terms ofthe, the, I'm sure you guys, at
your club at the moment, I'msure you have a bit of fun and
some laughs and, stuff likethat, which I hope you do.
I think that's what anybody willmiss the most.
(26:15):
It's because it's funny becausewhen you become a professional
rugby player, That environmentpretty much becomes your life
really, because you do it mostdays.
so it, it can become a bit of ashock, when you come out the
other side and you don't havethat network, round about you.
So it's, important to, I'm veryfortunate, I've got a beautiful
(26:38):
wife and three, three youngkids, three young boys Arthur,
that keep me very busy.
So I've got other things toworry about, which is great.
But, definitely the changingroom, would be what, I would
miss the most.
Arthur (26:51):
Do your kids play rugby?
Greig (26:53):
Yeah, they do.
My, my two big boys do anyway.
I've got, my oldest, he's 10 andnearly 11, so they play, Rudy,
he's called Rocko, they bothplay there 10 and eight.
So they both play in Japan,we're currently still over in
Japan.
but my little man's only littleMax is only two.
(27:16):
So I'm sure watching hisbrothers mate, he'll be, the
next one to start playing thegame as well.
Arthur (27:21):
Wow, thank you.
And how did you cope with yournerves before a game, and what
kind of techniques did you use?
Greig (27:29):
I think that's probably coming back to a little bit of
that, that mental skills, stuffthat, that we touched on.
and probably also thatpreparation.
I guess as well if you feelreally prepared, and really you
need to try and again, it's likegoal kicking and stuff, the
(27:50):
human brain tell, if you were agoal kicker, the first thing the
human brain will tell you isdon't miss.
And that's the last thing youneed, to be thinking about.
So you're having a real,positive mindset, around you
going and, playing the game.
look forward to the challenge.
(28:10):
So if you are in the tunnel and,a big test match, you gotta be
looking forward to thatchallenge.
You don't want to be thinking,oh, I don't wanna run on this
field.
what if I make a mistake orsomething like that?
I think you.
You trust your process, trustyour preparation.
Don't worry about makingmistakes.
And if you can do that, you cancontrol your, real, a real
(28:32):
positive mindset, for yourself.
That's the key.
Arthur (28:36):
Thank you.
And what legacy do you feel youhave left in the game from
playing your rugby days?
Greig (28:42):
I'd always just try to be the, best version of myself,
Arthur, that was what I was allabout.
I think I was always willing to,to give my time, especially to
young players, to really help'em, so hopefully my legacy
around the players, the clubsI've been involved with is a
real positive one.
(29:03):
And I always try to make anyenvironment I, I went into, are,
definitely try to make itbetter.
I can feel real confident, aboutsaying things like that.
I tried my hardest, but that'sall you can do at the end of the
day, mate, is try your hardest,have fun, try and take people
(29:25):
along with you as well.
if you can encourage, if you'vegot great behaviors, if you can
encourage a few other teammatesto do the same.
I think that's a great lesson.
And because the more people youhave with, excellent behaviors,
then the chances are theenvironment that, that you're in
or you're creating is gonna be abetter one.
(29:47):
Yeah, it's hopefully youngfellas, young boys and girls
these days set of greatenvironments and really enjoy it
and help each other.
Arthur (29:55):
Wow.
That's very interesting.
Thank you.
So Greig, what was yourfavourite match you've ever
played in?
Greig (30:02):
maybe, Arthur was when we won the Calcutta cup 2018.
Yeah, sorry about that.
But we, beat England.
Scotland, be England that day.
It's probably my favourite one.
Arthur (30:12):
why was it your favourite?
Greig (30:14):
we hadn't beaten England for a long time.
and I think we played reallywell that day.
Up, in Scotland, up inMurrayfield.
So yeah, that was probably why.
Arthur (30:22):
what's your favourite trophy you've ever won since
you've won quite a lot?
Greig (30:26):
yeah, Calcutta Cup, that's a great trophy to win
when you play against England.
It was great to win a trophywith Clermont sadly, as I said,
it wasn't the top 14.
We won the challenge cup.
also won the challenge cup withGloucester.
Arthur (30:42):
Thank you.
And who was your favouriteplayer growing up?
Greig (30:46):
My favourite player growing up was, was George
Gregan actually, Australianplayer, used to play halfback,
for Australia.
Excellent player.
he was like, he was, quitesmall.
I.
That's maybe what, attracted, meto, to watching him.
And, but he was, really a reallysmart player.
(31:07):
and he was coming through andplaying for Australia when I was
starting to, watch the,Tri-Nations as it was back then.
So he was a, he was my favouriteplayer when I was growing up.
Arthur (31:17):
And what was your favourite try or conversion?
Greig (31:21):
I scored a try for Scotland against, Samoa in the
2015 World Cup up in Newcastle.
and maybe thinking back maybethat was probably my favourite
try was the game was probably abit closer than that, than we
would've hoped that day, but weprobably never played our best
game.
But yeah, I was able to scorethere and really help the team.
And yeah, that was probably theone that sticks in my mind.
Arthur (31:43):
Thank you and thanks so much for being on my podcast.
I really appreciate it.
And.
Who of your rugby mates wouldyou say would be great on my
podcast?
Greig (31:52):
If you could get hold of Finn Russell, Finn would be
good.
Arthur (31:54):
And thanks so much, I really appreciate taking your
time to be on my podcast.
Thank you.
Greig (31:59):
No problem.
Pleasure, mate.
Popular Podcasts
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com