Ahead of the 2023/24 rugby season, Scotland’s Alex Craig has traded the red & white of Gloucester for the red of Llanelli’s Scarlets. Craig is one of eight new signings that Dwayne Peel has made this summer as they look to improve on what was a disappointing 14th-placed URC (United Rugby Championship) finish last season.
With that in mind, what can the new boy second-row offer Scarlets?
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) June 19, 2023
Alex Craig displays Hunger to succeed
Putting aside Alex Craig’s obvious raw talent for the game of rugby, one of his strongest assets is his hunger to succeed. And this coming season especially, he has a point to prove.
Craig is one in a list of 20 players that have left Gloucester already this summer, alongside big names such as Billy Twelvetrees and Jake Poledri. Ben Morgan has retired, but the other 19, including Craig, do not have a place at the West Country club for next season and subsequently have either been sold or released. Every year, hundreds of players leave their clubs in search of new horizons, but not all are lucky enough to find them. Scarlets have given Alex Craig a chance at not only a new team but a new competition and, therefore, a new opportunity. He will be keen to hit the ground running in Wales and show his former employer why they might’ve considered holding onto him.
Much like the Scarlets, Gloucester also had a poor domestic season last term, finishing second-bottom in the Gallagher Premiership, six points adrift of both Bristol in ninth and rivals Bath in eighth. That might, however, work in Alex Craig’s favour. The Dumfries-born lock comes off the back of an underwhelming season in the English top flight, into a team that knows they need to improve if they are to challenge in the competitive URC league. Craig will be determined to show his worth to his new teammates and coaches and could play a key role in Scarlets’ rise up the table. Craig was quoted by WalesOnline website; “This is a fresh start playing in an exciting competition that is the URC,” said Craig.
“Scarlets are a big club with a proud fan base and play a real exciting brand of rugby. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
The former Stewartry and Hartpury College player heads to Wales to become one of the five second-rows at Scarlets, alongside Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Morgan Jones and Jac Price. Both Fifita and Lousi have been capped internationally by Tonga but Alex Craig will fancy his chances of pushing his way into the first-team picture and staying there. Furthermore, a string of good performances, paired with his hunger to constantly be improving his game, could see him become one of the go-to men to help lead the Scarlets’ pack in months to come.
Finally, and possibly most crucially, is the desire to achieve what every athlete in the world strives for – representing your country. Although Craig has already represented Scotland, he will be hoping, at the age of just 26, that there are more international caps to come. He made his debut in blue in 2021 against Italy in the Six Nations and made his second appearance a week later in a historic win for Scotland over France in Paris. Since then, however, Craig has not featured again and has struggled to make his way into Gregor Townsend’s squads. But with Sam Skinner, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, and Grant Gilchrist all older than him, Alex Craig could make his long-awaited return to the side sooner rather than later and be a starting second row in the future.
Experience across Premiership and Scottish caps
Despite Alex Craig having just the two Scotland caps; both from the bench, yet the experience that he will have gained from his time in camp is invaluable. The Scottish side has been the one to watch in recent years under head coach Gregor Townsend. They have built upon their successes and have given first-team opportunities to a vast number of young and exciting talents. They currently sit fifth in the World Rankings and are in a great position going into this year’s Rugby World Cup. While brief, these are all things that Alex Craig has been a part of and has contributed towards. He has trained with some of the world’s very best, at both club and country levels, and that kind of exposure to the elite levels of the game will be a useful asset in Llanelli.
Craig has also just spent six years (49 appearances) in the English Premiership – the league that many consider to be the best and most competitive in the world. He has played with some of rugby’s recent stars during his time at the Cherry and Whites, including Franco Mostert, Chris Harris and Danny Cipriani, and has played and tested himself against countless others. It may go unnoticed by those watching, but every tackle, every carry, every minute they spend in that high-pressure environment, the better they become.
Alex Craig has played under three coaches during his time in professional rugby. Johan Ackermann, George Skivington and the previously mentioned Gregor Townsend. While Townsend has certainly earned his stripes as a coach in the past few seasons, what Craig will have learned from his two club coaches is undeniable. Both Ackermann and Skivington were professional locks, with the former even making 13 appearances for the Springboks. They will have worked closely with the Scot, especially around the set piece, which will have been a huge boost to his development.
At 6’6 and 119kg, Alex Craig is a modern, dynamic forward. “I’m looking forward to seeing him play. Alex is a young, athletic lock, who will add international quality to our pack of forwards“ said new boss Dwayne Peel. He may be one of the many Gloucester have decided to let go this summer, but his experience and sheer determination to succeed will be a welcome addition at Parc y Scarlets.
“Main photo credit courtesy of Tony Francis Rees, Flickr”
