Navy & Old Gold: Crebhan Hughes
We recently sat down with our club captain Crebhan Hughes ahead of his second year in the post and with a whole new challenge to look forward to in East 2. Last time we kept things quite focussed on rugby, but today we want to learn a little bit more about the man himself.
If you could be any animal, what would it be, and why?
I'd choose a swift, so that I could fly long distances, giving me the freedom to see different parts of the world. I like to visit far flung countries, so it'd give me the freedom to do so.
When did you start playing rugby?
I started about 9 years ago in college where I played with the University of Limerick.
What are your hobbies outside of rugby?
I play a lot of golf during the off-season. Something a lot of people may not know is that I get good enjoyment out of cooking. If Sophie was to answer, she would probably answer anything other than sitting still and relaxing.
What is your favourite sporting memory?
That’s a tricky one so here’s a couple:
Playing football, hurling, and soccer every evening until it got dark on the roads, driveways and gardens of Doolin (the village I grew up in).
Sitting in the Cusack Stand and seeing Clare win the All-Ireland in 2013.
Parading the roads of North Clare sitting out windows and sunroofs having won a league or cup with Burren United, St Breckans or the schools football team.
Winning the Shaw Cup at my home golf course Lahinch, in Ireland.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Again, a very difficult one, but I think I'd have to answer sitting outside Tigh Ned's on Inisheer on a fine summer's evening, having a pint of plain overlooking the sea followed by driving the boat back to the main land.
Is there anything your fellow Northerners don't know about you that you think they would find interesting?
During Covid I got quite into brewing IPAs and stout.
What is your favourite food?
It's hard to beat sticky rice and mango, or fresh shellfish.
Beamish, Guinness or Murphy's?
Guinness. The only reason people pick Beamish or Murphy's is because they are from Cork.
What is your best bronco time?
A couple of weeks ago I did 4:46.
Last but not least, describe yourself in three words.
Hairy, hardworking and very dyslexic.
When did you join the club and what was your first game?
I joined five years ago in August 2021, just after Covid. My first game was a pre-season game away to Leith.
What makes Edinburgh Northern the best club in Edinburgh?
It's 100% the community that we have. Although we get three teams out at various playing levels, we are one squad that trains and socialises together, with no egos in the club. Yes, we do all we can to train hard so we can do so, give it 100%, prepare to win on a Saturday and are pissed off when we don't, but that's only one half of the club. The other half is away from the pitch and the social side of it: the friends, the memories, the support and the copious amounts of VKs drunk.
Are there any exciting developments at the club this year that you're looking forward to?
As we seem to always do, we have once again recruited very well across all positions, 1 to 15, which is great. Having Jamie stay on as Head Coach was an important step for the squad, ensuring continuity and consistency whilst building on the success of last season. With the growing squad, the step up in standards and the goals we have set, getting former player Tommy Horton back involved as a coach will be a great addition. And although, due to unfortunate circumstances, Mikey isn't going to be able to play on the pitch this year, having him involved in the coaching team and around the lads will be great.
How have you found your first year as club captain — any highlights or lowlights?
Ya, it's been great. To be honest, I really didn’t know what to expect, and when Jamie asked me to take over from him, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I feel like I’ve done it my way whilst building on the great work done by those before me. It’s been really rewarding to lead the lads on the pitch and to see us improve as a squad, resulting in the club getting promoted back into East 2.
The teams in East 2 — Dalkeith, Leith, Hawick, Earlston, etc. — are largely teams we're familiar with from their time in East 3. I think the playing squad as a whole is quite well-suited to the challenges of that division, but what do you think the biggest challenges will be in terms of performing a level up?
Ya, it’s a step up, but not one we should be afraid of. As you say, we’ve played many of the teams in the league in seasons gone by, beating them both in Inverleith Park and on the road. We’ve all improved since then and I think the main change this year will be that we don’t have any of our ‘easier games’ like we maybe would have had at times in East 3. This year every game will be a proper contest.
What represents success this year for the 1st XV?
Our goal this year is to finish in the top half of the East 2 league, to continue to regularly getting 30+ lads down to training (be it a sunny August evening or a wet, cold November night) and to enjoy ourselves both on the pitch and in the Bunker.
If you could be any other Northerner, who would it be, and why?
Nobody.
A stirring finish there from the club captain. Thanks to Crebh for taking the time to speak with us, and we look forward to seeing how the season pans out. Coming up in the interview corner in the next few weeks will be 2nd XV captain Lee Tenent and the clubs resident MC and master of ceremonies, Cian Scully.