Great Scot!

Scottish import Richard Borthwick, the new fullback and kicker for the New Brunswick Black Spruce, has proven to be a fine addition to the local Rugby Canada Super League entry. The 1-1 Black Spruce host the Quebec Caribou Sunday at 3 p.m. at Loyalist Field.

Scotland's Richard Borthwick has come abroad and New Brunswick Black Spruce is happy to have him aboard for the Rugby Canada Super League season.

Borthwick, a fullback who also inherits Scott MacAfee's kicking chores, will try to help Spruce improve to 2-1 when they take on the Quebec Caribou at 3 p.m. Sunday at Loyalist Field.

"I just wanted to come over here and try something new," said the personable Borthwick, who found out by phone he'd earned his English and history degree Wednesday from his native Edinburgh University.

"He's certainly the real deal," Black Spruce head coach Keith McAlpine said. "He just turned 22 but he's almost the finished product right now."

Connections helped bring Borthwick to Canada.

McAlpine is also from Edinburgh. He's related to rugby-renowned twin brothers Finlay and Jim Calder.

David Calder, a prop and Finlay's son, will be coming to Canada next month in time for the Spruce's last game and to play for the Fredericton Loyalists in the fall.

Borthwick was talking to Duncan Calder, Jim's son, about opportunities in Canada.

"I thought about coming abroad and I mentioned it to Duncan," Borthwick said. "He said 'Well, my uncle coaches in Canada.' I said, 'That would be great. Could I get a contact number for him.' He said, 'He's actually in Edinburgh this week.' "

McAlpine was home for a visit in late January and early February.

"We spoke to Keith. I said 'Can I come across?' and he said yes. It was as simple as that, really."

"A couple of our guys, Chris Aaen and Chris Hunter, were over there a number of years ago and played, so there's been some connection between the clubs," McAlpine said. "We always wanted to get some guys coming back this way."

McAlpine watched Borthwick play twice and was impressed.

"He came highly recommended and I had no doubt that he would be great here. When I got to see him, that confirmed what I'd heard."

Borthwick's club team is Stewart's Melville FP. He racked up 180 points in 25 games this past season. In March, he played for the Scotland amateur team in the inaugural international against Ireland.

"It was in Dublin and it was live on Irish TV," Borthwick said. "We got awarded international caps, which was a precedent. No Scottish player had ever received a cap who hadn't played for the proper first team, so that's quite a big first step.

"It was just a great experience playing with guys you're used to playing against, and getting to wear the national jersey."

On the national level, he represented Scotland at the 2003 under-19 World Cup in Paris, scoring four tries in five fixtures. He was part of Edinburgh's age group district championship squad three years in a row. And so on.

"I've been playing rugby for 12 years now," Borthwick said, "so it's fair to say I love the game. I didn't really take it that seriously at
first. We started in primary school, when I was 10, but I didn't start to take it seriously until I was about 15 when I got selected to the high school first 15.

"Since then it's just kind of progressed. I've been lucky enough to play on some national under-18 and under-19 teams, so it's just gone from there really."

McAlpine says Borthwick's experience and smarts sets him apart from many players.

"He's played a long time and he has a good sense of the game. He's a good athlete, he works extremely hard at the game and is very knowledgeable about the game. So he's got the whole package, really."

Borthwick made his debut in a 27-3 loss to defending Super league champion Newfoundland Rock. Spruce rebounded to beat Nova Scotia Keltics 26-7 on a sloppy, mud-caked soccer pitch.

"I've been impressed with the high standard of play," said Borthwick, who has 14 points in two games. "It's very physical, especially when we played Newfoundland. They have a very big pack and they outmuscled us a bit."

The Spruce players have made Borthwick feel at home.

"He's fit in enormously well," McAlpine said. "He's become quite
friendly with two or three of the guys and they socialize a bit
together. Our guys respect his rugby abilities."

"It's been excellent - the town in general," Borthwick said. "As soon as people hear your accent, everyone stops and talks to you whether it be in the street or wherever. The guys have been brilliant. They've made me feel really welcome."

Borthwick is one of the youngest Spruce players.

"It's a different culture over here," Borthwick said, "because most
22-year-olds have only played (high-level rugby) for two or three years. Back home, if you're pushing 30 you're nearing retirement age whereas here that's when you're in your prime."

Borthwick takes over the fullback spot from Matt Eager, who has work commitments. He's also filling MacAfee's big kicking boot.

"I probably have more accuracy than distance," Borthwick said. "I'm trying to learn a few things from Scott, who can really boot it. I haven't really been a front-line kicker until this year. I've done a lot of work in the last year trying to improve my technique. Hopefully that will pay dividends."

Being new - and young - Borthwick doesn't want to overstep his
boundaries in the clubhouse. But he's found the players are receptive to his input.

"I've been lucky enough to play with guys who've been professionals, so I've learned a lot from them and I'm trying to pass it on to these guys."

When the Spruce season ends, Borthwick and Alan Pringle, a friend from high school, will be taking a month-long vacation in the United States.

"That's just four weeks of fun, no rugby," Borthwick said with a grin. "I've played rugby for pretty much 15 months without a break now. I'll be due by then."

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