Chris Cusiter

Chris Cusiter

Full 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
Playing career
Position	Scrum-half
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
2003	Watsonians RFC Boroughmuir RFC
correct as of 12 July 2014.
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2003–07 2007–09 2009–2014 2011 2014–	Border Reivers Perpignan Glasgow Warriors → Southern Districts Sale Sharks	25 39 58 3 24	(10) (15) (15) (0) (20)
correct as of 29 August 2015.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(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 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 Sale Sharks. He left the Border Reivers at the end of the 2006–07 season. Cusiter studied law at the University of Edinburgh.

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.

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 27 January 2009 Cusiter signed for Scottish side, Glasgow Warriors on a three-year deal, after which he moved to the English Aviva Premiership side, Sale Sharks.

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.

External links

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