Neil Cochrane

Neil Cochrane (born 4 January 1984 in Edinburgh) is a retired Scottish rugby union player. Cochrane played for Edinburgh Rugby from 2014 until his retirement at the end of the 2018 season having spent the early parts of his career in England. A former captain of the Scotland under 21s, he was known as a hard-hitting forward with plenty of pace and power.[2]

Neil Cochrane
Neil Cochrane playing for Bedford Blues against London Welsh
Birth nameNeil Cochrane
Date of birth (1984-01-04) 4 January 1984
Place of birthEdinburgh, Scotland
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight104 kg (16 st 5 lb) [1]
SchoolBoroughmuir High School
UniversityUniversity of Reading
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005–2008
2008–2011
2011–2013
2013–2014
2014–2018		 Rotherham Titans
Doncaster Knights
Bedford Blues
London Wasps
Edinburgh Rugby		 83
75
50
8
75		 (70)
(60)
(70)
(10)
(35)
Correct as of 22 May 2018

Background

When he was fifteen he took up rugby at Boroughmuir High School after his friends convinced him to play in their team. Cochrane initially played rugby union at centre before moving to flanker. Whilst playing for Boroughmuir he was spotted by the Under 16s State School Scotland Rugby Union Team, which led to an academy place with Edinburgh Rugby. In 2003 Cochrane was called up to the Scotland Under-21s, captaining the team between 2004 and 2005.

Club career

Rotherham Titans

In 2005 he was offered his first professional contract by RFU Championship side the Rotherham Titans. During his three years at Rotherham, Cochrane made 83 appearances at flanker scoring 70 points and was voted player of the year in his final season for them.

Doncaster Knights

In 2008 Cochrane signed a full-time contract with the Doncaster Knights where once again supporters voted him Player of the Year[3] in 2010. During his three years at the Knights, Cochrane made 75 appearances scoring 60 points.

Bedford Blues

Bedford Blues moved in to sign Cochrane from Doncaster Knights at the beginning of the 2011–12 RFU Championship where he changed from the position of flanker to hooker. Bedford Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said "We are delighted that he has agreed to join us next season, you only need to have seen Doncaster in action this season to realise how important a player Neil has been to the Knights."[4]

Cochrane quickly established himself as the starting hooker for the Blues, who secured second position in the 2011–12 RFU Championship table with a win over Nottingham in the last game of the season. Whilst in preparations for the semi-finals of the Championship play offs against London Welsh Bedford agreed a new 12-month deal with Cochrane to continue playing in his new position for the 2012–13 Championship season.

London Wasps

On 3 May 2013, Cochrane leaves Bedford Blues for London Wasps, who compete in the Aviva Premiership for the 2013–14 season.[5]

Edinburgh Rugby

On 27 January 2014, Cochrane returns to Scotland to rejoin with his hometown club Edinburgh Rugby for the 2014–15 season.[6]

International career

He was called up to the senior Scotland squad for the 2018 Six Nations Championship.[7]

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References
  1. "Bedford Blues Rugby Club". web page. Bedford Blues. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  2. "Neil Cochrane leaves Doncaster for Bedford Blues". web page. BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  3. "Cochrane is aiming to go from strength to strength". web page. Scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  4. "Neil Cochrane leaves Doncaster for Bedford Blues". web page. BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  5. "London Wasps sign Bedford Blues hooker Neil Cochrane". BBC Sport. 3 May 2013.
  6. "Edinburgh snaps up London Wasps hooker Neil Cochrane". BBC Sport. 27 January 2014.
  7. "Six Nations: Scotland call up Edinburgh's Neil Cochrane after George Turner blow". BBC. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.


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