Club centurion Hamish Watson has been voted Scottish Building Society Player of the Month for March after an impressive run of weeks in the Edinburgh back-row.
Watson – who put pen-to-paper on a new deal last week – won a tightly contested vote, beating out Sam Skinner, Bill Mata and Boan Venter to claim the award which is sponsored and backed by Scottish Building Society.
Watson started the month with a bang, picking up Player of the Match in the home BKT United Rugby Championship victory over Ospreys at Hive Stadium, a match in which Watson crossed the whitewash to cap of an all-action performance.
The British & Irish Lion continued to impress as Edinburgh hit the road and never took a backward step during the team’s two-week tour to South Africa.
Although Edinburgh returned to Scotland without a point, Watson was ever-present in the capital back-row, with his ferocious carrying and defensive work at the breakdown a shining light for Sean Everitt’s side.
On being named Scottish Building Society Player of the Month for March, Watson said: “I’m obviously delighted to pick up this award for March. A massive thank you to everyone that voted for me, I really appreciate your support.
“I feel like as a team we’re playing some good rugby at the moment, and I’ve been able to benefit from that with what have hopefully been some good performances personally.
“I love playing with this team and I’m proud to represent Edinburgh every time I pull on the jersey. Hopefully we can continue to kick on and finish the season with a flourish, and it starts in Durban this weekend.”
Scottish Building Society have donated £500 to Watson’s chosen charity as part of the Player of the Month initiative, with the back-row choosing My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
It’s a charity and cause Watson knows well having previously been a Team Edinburgh captain during the ever-popular Doddie Aid – the annual mass-participation fundraising initiative.
Watson continued: “The great thing about Player of the Month is that Scottish Building Society donate to your charity of choice, so it really does mean a lot that they are able to give £500 to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
“It’s a charity that is close to my heart, and close to the hearts of everyone connected to Scottish rugby. Hopefully the donation can do some good and help them continue their mission, which is to find a cure for MND.”
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt has heaped praise on Watson’s form of late, and today congratulated him on picking up March’s Scottish Building Society Player of the Month.
He said: “Hamish [Watson] is in the form of his life at the moment. He really does deserve this award after an impressive month for the club.
“He has now picked up back-to-back Player of the Match awards in our home wins over Ospreys and Bayonne, so that show you the kind of performances he is putting in week in, week out.
“We were delighted to see Hamish extend terms with the club last week. He’s clearly really enjoying his rugby at the moment – long may it continue.”
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