Road to Scotstoun | Nathan McBeth

• 14 Jul 2023
• Features

From South Africa to Scotland, and making an impact in the Glasgow Warriors front-row – let Nathan McBeth take you on his Road to Scotstoun…

“My dad was the one that got me into rugby, really. Even as a young kid, the idea of playing rugby just really excited me. I started out when I was about six years old, and I’ve never really looked back from there.

“My dad actually played soccer and cricket, but never rugby! We supported the Cheetahs growing up, and we went to see them play live a few times. That was a really cool experience, going down and watching all of these professional players in the flesh. I was hooked from there, to be honest.”

“I got called up for Scotland U20 in 2018 (above) and played the U20 Six Nations that year, which was amazing.

“I then got called up for the South Africa U20 squad the same year for the World Rugby U20 Championship, which was also such a cool moment.

“A lot of my friends growing up were also in that squad, so to run out alongside them was a real pinch-me moment.”

“My Super Rugby debut for the Lions was against the Jaguares, which was a real eye-opener for me. That was my first experience of ‘big’ rugby. The speed and physicality that you needed to bring every single game was insane, especially against a team like the Crusaders (above).

“It was a real privilege to be involved with that group, though, and I’m thankful for the opportunity the Lions gave me.

“My first impressions of Glasgow were mainly that it was really cold!

“Everyone here was so welcoming, though. They helped me learn the systems, the different style of rugby that we play here, everything I needed to know. It was a really easy transition, actually, and I loved it.”

“It’s been really good to get a bit more game time in 2022/23. Playing under Franco [Smith] has been great for me, personally – although sometimes he shouts at us in Afrikaans just to get our heads screwed on straight [laughs]!

“He’s a great coach and you can see what he’s been getting out of us this season.”

“My target now is just to keep playing, really. I want to keep putting my hand up for Glasgow, keep doing my bit and hopefully keep progressing.

“Long-term, I’d love to push for international selection. I just need to keep playing well for Glasgow first, though.”

A version of this article first appeared in Issue 17 of Warrior, the official magazine of Glasgow Warriors.