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Marching through the corridors with a sense of uniformity, Scotland’s rugby players make a striking sight. Clad in the same branded attire, carrying matching backpacks, and often adorned with white earbuds, they present a cohesive front.
Having wrapped up their morning training, the team members enjoy a brief pause as they head towards the elevators in a hotel close to their Oriam training base. This wave of blue is both lively and imposing, a collective of muscular athletes. Yet, beneath the surface, each player has a unique journey that led them to this shared mission.
For Jamie Dobie, the path has been particularly picturesque. His journey included five-hour drives every Friday afternoon, traveling between Inverness and Stirling. Along the way, he competed in tennis against the likes of Jacob Fearnley and Jack Draper.
Dobie became the first player to be signed directly from school to the Glasgow Warriors and enjoyed a stint with the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. Now, at 24, he is a well-established member of the international squad, known for his versatility in playing both scrum-half and wing positions.
With such a promising future, Dobie sits down for a chat in a café, reflecting on his journey from a young Highland boy to a mature professional athlete. His confidence is evident, yet it is grounded in humility, a testament to his unique and self-directed path.
‘I grew up in a small place, Lentran, you couldn’t really call it a village,’ he says. ‘It was just a gathering of houses five miles out of Inverness towards Beauly.’
Jamie Dobie scores for Scotland in the 85-0 thrashing of the USA at Murrayfield last November
Jacob Fearnley, above, was a regular opponent for Jamie Dobie in his youthful tennis days
Dobie also faced Jack Draper, above, who has become the biggest name in British men’s tennis since Andy Murray quit the scene
Jamie Dobie hopes to become a more prominent member if Gregor Townsend’s Scotland team
His parents had moved north for lifestyle reasons, a capacity for change inherited by the son. His mother, Catriona, was brought up in Perthshire but worked as a paediatrician at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. His dad, Alan, was from Dumfries and, after training as a lawyer, worked for Scottish Natural Heritage.
Dobie attended Kirkhill primary school and had a carefree childhood. ‘It was just great fun. My parents loved the area and all the bits north of it. I was playing mini rugby and tennis at the club in Inverness and just enjoying life,’ he says.
His prowess at tennis was spotted immediately. ‘From the age of about eight to 11, I was travelling down to the Gannochy (national tennis centre) in Stirling for sessions. I suppose it was a young talent programme. Andy Murray’s career was taking off so it was an exciting time. I got the afternoon off from school and my dad had to drive there and back.’
Tennis then played a part in his choice of school, though Dobie says academic considerations obviously played a part. So off it was to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh.
‘I was 11 but I had been playing a lot of tennis,’ says Dobie. ‘I was competing in tournaments in Bolton, Sunderland, wherever.’
His period at Merchiston was significant in both his tennis and his future rugby career.
‘I grew up with Jacob Fearnley. I maybe beat him once, though I played him a lot of times,’ he says of the Scot who has reached the top 50 in world tennis. ‘I think I may have played Jack Draper (career high No 4 in the world). My dad says I did and he remembers such things. It’s cool to see them rising. They have enjoyed unbelievable careers. I took a different route.’
Rugby was always a part of Dobie’s life. He chucked a ball about with cousins and uncles at an early age and played mini-rugby. It was also on the curriculum at Merchiston and he gravitated towards it. He played in the school tennis team that won a British championship, but the pull of rugby proved too strong.
Jamie Dobie dives for the try line in derby clash between Glasgow and Edinburgh
George Horne, left, throws the ball for Dobie as Scots prepare for trip to Rome on Saturday
Jamie Dobie sets the pace for Glasgow Warriors in clash with Clermont Auvergne
‘I was torn,’ he admits. ‘I enjoyed the tennis but it’s a lot more individual and I was having to miss big rugby games. It was getting to the point where school was becoming a bit more serious with exams, so I had to choose. I just decided to step back from the tennis academy, though I still play, but not as much as I like.’
His decision was vindicated. ‘I often look back to schoolboy rugby, playing with mates, winning matches. It was a great time.’
One defeat proved to be a big lesson, however. ‘In the Under-16s we were a bit over confident in a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Aloysius, thinking we would beat them. But we didn’t. That was a tough loss. But that taught me that we lost together and won together.’
Dobie played as Merchiston won the Under-18 Scottish Cup final against St Aloysius in the 2018-19 season.
‘That was not the first taste of winning anything, but it was a big one,’ he says. ‘I loved winning with my best mates.’
One of them, Edinburgh centre Matt Currie, also became an international player. ‘We all still have that friendship group,’ says Dobie. ‘We try to get together as often as possible.’
Dobie was immediately signed by Glasgow Warriors on leaving school. Initially short of game time, he was sent to Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. ‘This was another amazing experience,’ he says. The lands around Beauly may not be a rugby hotspot but, on the shores of North Island, the game has a central spot in the culture.
‘It was more than just rugby,’ says Dobie, who is combining his playing career with taking a business degree at Strathclyde University. ‘The lifestyle was so different. The standard of play was exceptional, too.’
Scotland star Dobie can’t hide his delight after scoring team’s sixth try against Americans
Glasgow Warriors player Dobie hopes to play his part when Scots open Six Nations campaign against Italy on Saturday
His talent has always been appreciated and gently nurtured. He called himself ‘an apprentice player’ when he was taken to Scotland matches at Twickenham and Parc de Princes in the Covid season of 2021.
‘There were no fans there, of course, but to witness the celebration up close after beating France was so cool. You just wanted more and more to be part of something like that.’
His road to No 9 in a dark blue shirt is blocked by the impressive talents of Ben White and George Horne. But Dobie’s versatility makes him a strong contender for match-day squads. He has been tipped to start on the wing against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
Glasgow are enjoying a season for the ages and Dobie is determinedly bright on what lies ahead for Scotland. ‘I love the sense of belonging and camaraderie I get from rugby. It is really special. I get it at Warriors and I get here,’ he says.
‘It is tough to get on in this sport. It’s important to remember the journey you have been on and the people who have helped you to play for Scotland. I am keen to make opportunities and take them.’
This is all the more striking because it is said with the softest of tones.
‘It’s been a wild ride,’ he concedes. ‘Yes, it’s from the Highlands to the top of the game but it shows there is a road for everyone if you want to take it.’