Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Edinburgh sign Scottish qualified multi-sport athlete who ran a 10.67 second 100 metres

Freddie Owsley (Getty Images)

Edinburgh have confirmed the signing of a 6’4, multi-sport athlete who has shone in both football and athletics. 24-year-old Scottish-qualified speedster Freddie Owsley signs from the Bristol Bears Academy and has run the 100 metres in a time of 10.67 seconds.

ADVERTISEMENT

Head coach Richard Cockerill said the wing/fullback’s speed was a genetic ‘gift’ that you couldn’t teach.

The 6’4, 90.4kg back three player – whose grandmother is from Govan – grew up in Bristol and trained with the south-west arm of the Scottish Exiles out of Taunton while representing Bristol U18 as well as the academy talent identification set-up at Bristol City FC.

Video Spacer

Chris Robshaw chats to The Offload:

Video Spacer

Chris Robshaw chats to The Offload:

As a teenager his career progressed to Bristol A and included an invite to try out for Great Britain students, both of which he had to turn down as the demands of a blossoming athletics career took hold.

In a four-year spell away from rugby Owsley represented Great Britain U20 in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m and was crowned national 400m U20 Champion before earning a place in the British indoor and outdoor senior 200m final.

He also lined up for the Junior Team GB squad in the 4x100m and 200m, before returning to his first love, rugby, with the Bears Academy last summer, making his debut in the Premiership Shield.

Although not born in Scotland herself, Freddie’s mother Jennifer Owsley has always been an ardent Scotland fan because of the connections fostered by her parents and older siblings, who grew up there, meaning Freddie too has long harboured an ambition to play north of the border.

ADVERTISEMENT

He arrives with a strong sporting heritage – his sister Lily was a gold medallist with Team GB (hockey) at the 2016 Rio Games while great grandfather Duncan McPherson played left-back for Queens Park in the 1920s.

With 10.67s (100 metres) and 21.12 (200 metres) track times to his credit, Owsley is looking to make good on his potential and continue his family’s Scottish connections and sporting pedigree here in the capital.

He said: “I’m completely ecstatic. I’ve always dreamed of playing in Scotland.

“My mum’s been the most involved in my sport and, being a massive Scotland fan, she couldn’t be prouder that I’m coming to Edinburgh – probably the proudest out of any of my sporting achievements, and even arguably my sister who’s won a gold medal!

“It’s something that’s always been there throughout my life, and you can’t find a much better city than Edinburgh to pursue a dream.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The main thing I want to do is play. I’m really keen to get up there and get stuck into some rugby.

“Looking at the club and the direction it’s going, with new signings and the new stadium, it seems like there’s huge potential, so I’m very keen to get stuck in and push for a place in the side.

“I know a lot about how strong Edinburgh’s pack is and how much of a weapon that is for the club, however I know from speaking to Richard Cockerill [Head Coach] how important speed is in the team’s system.

“I also really like the look of the new stadium and synthetic surface. It really suits me having a fast track all year round, so hopefully I’ll get some games and be able to show some speed out wide.”

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach, Richard Cockerill, said: “Freddie is an exciting prospect for us to develop.

“He already has a lot of rugby in him, but that kind of speed you cannot teach – it’s a genetic gift which he’s worked exceptionally hard to hone at an elite level.

“He has a great work ethic, so it’ll be interesting to see how he progresses with an extended spell working with the coaches here.

“He’ll hopefully develop into a real weapon for us on the quick synthetic surface in the new stadium next season.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
Search