By Frank Stormont
July 20 2006

Colin Stewart looks forward to playing for a team that is expected to win.  

Colin Stewart

Twenty six year old Colin Stewart was the second lock to sign for Plymouth Albion two weeks ago. Measuring in at six foot seven he must one of the tallest players in the league and literally stands head and shoulders above some in the lineout. He comes from Border Reivers where he played in 15 of their Celtic League matches last season.

Colin’s two rugby idols are Martin Johnson and New Zealand lock Chris Jack, Chris is credited as being half an inch taller than Colin and was named as NZ player of the year in 2002.  The Martin Johnson Rugby Camp will be at Brickfields from 7^th - 9^th August.

Originally Colin’s favoured sport was soccer but he changed to rugby when it was felt that he was becoming too tall for the game. The 1991 World Cup, won by Australia who beat England in the final, inspired Colin to try rugby, a game he says was normally reserved for private schools in Glasgow. His first game was for his school, at twelve years old, when he played in the second row and has never played in any other position. He went on to play his first professional game for Glasgow against Munster in 2001.

As well as football and rugby Colin also enjoys golf with a handicap of around 18.  His new team mates have promised that they will give him the opportunity to enjoy one of the benefits of the west country, surfing.  Colin will reserve judgement as to whether this is a sport for him until after he has had the opportunity to try it out for himself.

Colin wants to play for a team that have a greater expectation of winning their games.  Whilst Border Reivers play in the Celtic League they finished 9^th place out of a league of eleven teams with an average home attendance at Netherdale of 1,687.  He was made to feel welcome by Graham Dawe and the rest of the team and the history and reputation of Albion helped in his decision to move down south. Colin is looking forward to National League One being a very physical league.

One his most memorable games was playing for Scotland U21 against France and he hopes that he can earn a full cap for Scotland, a long way from working in a burger restaurant when he was seventeen.

 

 

If you have any comments on this page please email Frank