Finn Duraj: Learning from the best

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - APRIL 02: Watsonians Rugby's Finn Duraj during a Super Series content session at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on April 02, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Brown, who today announced his retirement from the game, earned 61 caps for Scotland and made over 140 appearances for Glasgow Warriors turned his focus to coaching earlier this year first as an assistant coach to Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge and now as Head Coach at Watsonians.

Duraj said: “Having Fraser take over as Head Coach has been brilliant, he’s brought a lot more detail and really drives standards.

“He brings in the professional detail, he’s very personable and great with the young guys and the old guys in the leadership group too.

Talking to the Scottish Rugby podcast Finn was asked about being the same position as Fraser and the benefits that might bring: “Yea, it’s been brilliant. But to be able to play behind the guys from last year like Cal Davies and Jake Kerr, standing behind them, learning off them and having Fraser as well has really helped me.”

Reflecting on his Scotland U20 experiences Duraj said: “U20 was good for me, I didn’t get a huge amount of game time but being back in the environment, having been out the mix for a little bit, I had to fight to get back in so it was quite character building I think.

“The coaches we have are really good, Ferg [former Watonians Head Coach Fergus Pringle] has been great for me.

“I didn’t work with him at Watsonians but then he moved to be in with U20 full-time it’s been great to work with him. He has helped me individually about what the day looks like as a professional, as that what we’re all wanting to get to, so to be in that environment is really good and getting the chance to carry that on into Super Series is great.”

Finn Duraj during a Scotland Under-20 training session at Ravenscraig.

When asked about his personal aims for this year’s FOSROC Super Series Sprint Duraj simply said: “to try stay fit and play as much rugby as possible, control the controllables and play some good rugby.”

You can catch Finn and his Watsonians teammates take on Ayrshire Bulls away at Millbrae this Friday night in round two of the FOSROC Super Series Sprint live on BBC ALBA from 7:30pm.