WES Goosen believes that the “winning, competitive culture” he was part of with the Hurricanes in New Zealand can help Edinburgh keep up the progress they showed last season.
The 26-year-old winger, who signed for the capital club in May, was born in South Africa but moved to New Zealand when he was four and went on to represent his adoptive country at under-20 level. He enjoyed six successful seasons in Super Rugby with the Hurricanes, including a title win in his first campaign, and also turned out regularly for Wellington in domestic competition.
A versatile player who can also slot in at full-back or centre, Goosen thinks the high-tempo, positive style of play to which he is accustomed will be a good fit for Mike Blair’s Edinburgh. “We play quite fast back home and I know that Mike wants to play fast as well,” he said of the head coach. “I will just add what I can. I love to be competitive and love winning, so I hope to bring that winning, competitive culture.
“I was talking to Mike early on and it was about what they are about, about family, and that kind of aligns with my morals and that sort of thing. It was a pretty easy decision [to sign].”
Goosen and his partner Poppy arrived in Scotland earlier this month, and so far he has been pleased by what he has seen both at work and further afield. “I had always wanted to come to Edinburgh and everyone I spoke to, both my partner and my family, didn’t have a bad thing to say about it and that I should definitely go there,” he explained.
“It’s been a lot better than I thought - people say it’s like Dunedin in New Zealand but it’s a much bigger, nicer city. We’re in a nice spot in the Meadows so we’ve been walking everywhere.
“From my first few weeks here I think the boys are awesome, a very skilful group. Everyone trains so hard here. Everyone just puts their head down and works hard. Everyone wants to work for each other.”
Goosen’s versatility could come in useful given the competition out wide from players such as Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy Graham and Damien Hoyland. “There is big competition, but I love competing - competing in training, competing in the game,” he added.
“I guess that brings the best out of everyone. It means you have to perform to get that spot.”
