Rory Sutherland’s family drive as prop focuses on push to play

NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 20: Rory Sutherland during a Scotland Rugby training session at the Stade Nicois Rugby Club, on September 20, 2023, in Nice, France. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Sutherland has very recently welcomed a third child to his family and cites those closest to him as massively important to the success he has achieved in rugby. Keeping focused with so much to think about would never be easy, he admits.

“I think with any profession, whether it’s rugby or anything, you’ve got to be able to focus on the task at hand. People always have other stuff going on in their life, you have to do your best to park it and do your job well. It’s hard at times for me to forget about all the stuff that’s going on in the background, but the past two or three months have been great.

“My kids have been a massive part of my success throughout my career, they’ve been a huge driver to be successful, and it’s really nice now that they’re of an age where they understand what’s going on and they’re going to be able to watch their old man at a World Cup.”

Rugby wasn’t the only sport that played a part in Sutherland’s upbringing. The Hawick prop was well into his teenage years before the oval ball became his sole sporting focus. He also wasn’t one to sit and watch sport, and that hasn’t changed as he has got older.

“I didn’t watch a lot of rugby when I was younger, and to be honest I still don’t, unless I’m injured and I’ll watch Scotland! I’ve never been a big watcher of any sports.

“I do a bit of fishing, I raced motocross and did a lot of mountain biking when I was younger. The motocross was a very expensive sport, so I had to decide if I wanted to stay at the level I was at or be able to take rugby a bit further, so from about sixteen I fully focused on the rugby.”

Having missed out on selection for the loss to South Africa, Sutherland will start in Sunday’s match against Tonga. Earning a World Cup appearance is one thing, but the prop is set on being involved in every match he’s available for.

“For me personally, I want to play in every game that I can, whether that be starting or off the bench, and making sure I’m giving 100% to the team. I think we’ve shown we can beat anyone on our day, and we’ve come a long way as a squad in the last four or five years and we’re ready for any challenges that come.”