Chris Cusiter

Chris Cusiter

Birth name	Christopher Peter Cusiter
Date of birth	(1982-06-13) 13 June 1982
Place of birth	Aberdeen, Scotland
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
School	Robert Gordon's College
University	University of Edinburgh
Notable relative(s)	Calum Cusiter (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2003 Watsonians RFC Boroughmuir RFC () Correct as of 12 July 2014 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2001-02 2003–07 2007–09 2009–2014 2011 2014– Glasgow Warriors Border Reivers Perpignan Glasgow Warriors → Southern Districts Sale Sharks 1 25 39 58 3 24 (0) (10) (15) (15) (0) (20) Correct as of 29 August 2015 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2004– 2005 Scotland British and Irish Lions 70 1 (15) (0) Correct as of 25 November 2014

Christopher Peter Cusiter (born 13 June 1982) is a Scottish international rugby union player who plays at scrum-half. He currently plays for Sale Sharks, and was previously with Glasgow Warriors, Border Reivers and Perpignan.

International Career

Cusiter made his first start for Scotland 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.

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.

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 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.

Club Career

While still at Watsonians, Cusiter was called into the Glasgow Warriors side in the 2001-02 season. At the end of the season he had a number of games warming the bench, before making his professional debut coming on in the 79th minute against Swansea RFC in the Welsh-Scottish League in Glasgow's last game of the season.

At the season end he moved back to Watsonians, but secured another professional club in 2003 when he signed for Border Reivers. The Borders side folded in 2007 and Cusiter moved to play in France. On 18 April 2007, it was announced that Cusiter would sign for the French side Perpignan.

On 27 January 2009 Cusiter moved back to Scotland, securing a deal to play with Glasgow Warriors once again; this time on a three-year contract. His contract was extended and he played with Glasgow till the end of the 2013-14 season.

For the following season 2014-15, he moved to the English Aviva Premiership side, Sale Sharks.

Personal

Cusiter is a self-confessed fan of rugby league, following the Catalans Dragons after his two-year spell in Perpignan.

Originally from Aberdeen, he attended Robert Gordon's College, Cusiter studied law at the University of Edinburgh.

External links

• Scotland profile
• Chris Cusiter on Sporting Heroes
• Chris Cusiter on BBC Sport