Chris Cusiter
Encyclopedia
Christopher Peter Cusiter (born 13 June 1982) is a Scottish
rugby union
player who plays at scrum-half. Cusiter played for the British and Irish Lions
in their 2005 tour of New Zealand
. Originally from Aberdeen
, where he attended Robert Gordon's College
, he now plays for Glasgow Warriors
. He left the Border Reivers
at the end of the 2006–07 season. Cusiter studied law at Edinburgh University.
in the 2004 Six Nations
match against Wales
. Cusiter first shot to international prominence in the 2004 Autumn Internationals, where he made four length-of-the-field breaks in one match versus Australia
, a match which Scotland lost 17–31. His crisp passing, unpredictability from behind rucks and mauls, tenacity in defence, and ability to slow up opposition ball by tackling the Number 8 and opposing scrum-half, has made him one of the best in the world in his position.
Cusiter went on the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
. He was one of the youngest on the tour, yet many believe he was one of the best players of the series, making an impact in every game, and producing two mesmerising displays against NPC
sides Taranaki and Otago
. Many believed the Scotsman should have been the starting no.9, including ex-greats Will Carling
and Gavin Hastings
.
While Cusiter enjoyed a good run of games in the Scottish national side during 2005, he has since been let down by a string of injuries. In 2005, Cusiter sustained a knee injury against Australia
and upon his starting return against Italy
in the 2006 Six Nations
he picked up a pectoral injury. After making a substitute appearance against Romania
in the 2006 Autumn tests he was given the all clear to start against the Pacific Islanders
where he was once again struck with back luck and was stretchered off after 10 minutes.
Fortunately for Scotland, they had three players in the same position with equally prodigious talent, Mike Blair
of Edinburgh, Rory Lawson
of Gloucester and Cusiter. Many have seen the irony in this, in that Scotland are lacking talent in some other positions, yet have three top-class players in the same position. Blair was considered very unlucky not to gain a Lions spot. Their friendly rivalry and contrasting styles are highly beneficial to the Scottish team.
On 18 April 2007, it was announced that Cusiter would sign for the French side Perpignan
following the Border Reivers
closure at the end of the 2006–07 season. On January 27, 2009 Cusiter signed for Scottish side, Glasgow Warriors
on a three year deal.
Cusiter was left on the sidelines for the opening Autumn test against Argentina
in favour of Mike Blair
. But Cusiter returned for the matches against Samoa
and New Zealand
. Both players were joint-captains of Scotland for the Autumn internationals of 2009 and the 2010 Six Nations Championship
.
In the 2009 Autumn Internationals, Cusiter helped his team beat Fiji
23 – 10 and was knocked out in a courageous tackle after just 20 minutes into the game against Australia
in which Scotland won 9–8.
Cusiter is a self-confessed fan of rugby league
, following the Catalans Dragons
after his two year spell in Perpignan
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who plays at scrum-half. Cusiter played for the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in their 2005 tour of New Zealand
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
. Originally from Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, where he attended Robert Gordon's College
Robert Gordon's College
Robert Gordon's College is a private co-educational day school in Aberdeen, Scotland. The school caters for pupils from Nursery-S6.-History:...
, he now plays for Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
. He left the Border Reivers
Border Reivers (Rugby)
Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' and also known as 'The Borders' were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors....
at the end of the 2006–07 season. Cusiter studied law at Edinburgh University.
Career
Cusiter made his first start for ScotlandScotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in the 2004 Six Nations
2004 Six Nations Championship
The 2004 Six Nations Championship was the fifth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the hundred-and-tenth series of the northern...
match against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. Cusiter first shot to international prominence in the 2004 Autumn Internationals, where he made four length-of-the-field breaks in one match versus Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
, a match which Scotland lost 17–31. His crisp passing, unpredictability from behind rucks and mauls, tenacity in defence, and ability to slow up opposition ball by tackling the Number 8 and opposing scrum-half, has made him one of the best in the world in his position.
Cusiter went on the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
. He was one of the youngest on the tour, yet many believe he was one of the best players of the series, making an impact in every game, and producing two mesmerising displays against NPC
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
sides Taranaki and Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
. Many believed the Scotsman should have been the starting no.9, including ex-greats Will Carling
Will Carling
William David Charles Carling, OBE is a former Rugby union player for Harlequins, and a former captain of England from 1988 to 1996, winning 72 caps.-Early life:...
and Gavin Hastings
Gavin Hastings
Andrew Gavin Hastings, OBE is a former Scotland rugby union player. He is frequently considered one of the best, if not the best, rugby player to come out of Scotland. His nickname is "Big Gav".Hastings was born in Edinburgh...
.
While Cusiter enjoyed a good run of games in the Scottish national side during 2005, he has since been let down by a string of injuries. In 2005, Cusiter sustained a knee injury against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
and upon his starting return against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
in the 2006 Six Nations
2006 Six Nations Championship
The 2006 RBS 6 Nations Championship was the seventh series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy...
he picked up a pectoral injury. After making a substitute appearance against Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
in the 2006 Autumn tests he was given the all clear to start against the Pacific Islanders
Pacific Islanders rugby union team
The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004...
where he was once again struck with back luck and was stretchered off after 10 minutes.
Fortunately for Scotland, they had three players in the same position with equally prodigious talent, Mike Blair
Mike Blair
Michael Robert Leighton Blair is a Scottish rugby union footballer.He plays professional rugby union as scrum-half for Edinburgh Rugby and represents Scotland.He attended the Edinburgh Academy....
of Edinburgh, Rory Lawson
Rory Lawson
Rory Lawson is a Scottish international rugby union player who currently plays for Gloucester Rugby as a Scrum Half. He attended Dollar Academy where he captained the school's 1st XV. After a number of years playing amateur rugby for Heriots he then took a professional contract with Edinburgh...
of Gloucester and Cusiter. Many have seen the irony in this, in that Scotland are lacking talent in some other positions, yet have three top-class players in the same position. Blair was considered very unlucky not to gain a Lions spot. Their friendly rivalry and contrasting styles are highly beneficial to the Scottish team.
On 18 April 2007, it was announced that Cusiter would sign for the French side Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
following the Border Reivers
Border Reivers (Rugby)
Border Reivers, originally known as 'Scottish Borders Rugby' and also known as 'The Borders' were one of four professional rugby union teams in Scotland, alongside Edinburgh, Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors....
closure at the end of the 2006–07 season. On January 27, 2009 Cusiter signed for Scottish side, Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
on a three year deal.
Cusiter was left on the sidelines for the opening Autumn test against Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
in favour of Mike Blair
Mike Blair
Michael Robert Leighton Blair is a Scottish rugby union footballer.He plays professional rugby union as scrum-half for Edinburgh Rugby and represents Scotland.He attended the Edinburgh Academy....
. But Cusiter returned for the matches against Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
and New Zealand
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
. Both players were joint-captains of Scotland for the Autumn internationals of 2009 and the 2010 Six Nations Championship
2010 Six Nations Championship
The 2010 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2010 RBS 6 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 11th series of the Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition between the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams...
.
In the 2009 Autumn Internationals, Cusiter helped his team beat Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
23 – 10 and was knocked out in a courageous tackle after just 20 minutes into the game against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in which Scotland won 9–8.
Cusiter is a self-confessed fan of rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, following the Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
after his two year spell in Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
.