They say that good things come to those who wait and the waiting was certainly worth it for Jamie Forbes as he won his first piece of silverware recently and then announced his retirement after a stellar 15-year senior career.
On May 4, after losing the previous two finals, captain Forbes and his Currie Chieftains finally got over the line to win the Premiership title.
The Malleny Park outfit defeated defending champions Hawick 26-24 with 14 men in a thrilling final at Mansfield Park to spark scenes of celebration from the visiting players, coaches and supporters.
READ MORE: Currie clinch Premiership title in thriller against Hawick
“It was an amazing day,” Forbes, the 32-year-old stand-off who contributed 16 points with the boot in the Borders, said.
“In terms of the match itself, I thought we played some really good rugby at times and stuck to our gameplan well.
“The sending off [of Gregor Christie] just before half-time obviously changed things a bit, but the boys stuck to task and I felt that we deserved it on the day.
“Hawick are a very good team who always keep coming at you so we knew that it was going to take an 80-minute performance.
“Credit must go to coaches Mark Cairns and Ally Donaldson for the way that we played because between our Scottish Cup semi-final loss at the same venue a few weeks before and this game, they gave us so much information and analysis on how to approach things and it paid off.
“When the final whistle went all of the players were celebrating and then coaches and supporters ran on the pitch and it really hit me then just what we had achieved and how much it meant to so many people.
“I have watched the video coverage of that moment back quite a few times since the match and every time I watch it I focus in on a different person and see what it means to them and that is a really nice feeling.
“Currie Chieftains is a great community club and it has always been about much more than just the first XV, this victory was for everyone associated with the club.”
When former Scotland under-20 squad member and Club XV cap Forbes lifted the silverware high into the air post-match there was one man on the minds of all involved.
Currie stalwart Grant Williamson passed away aged 30 at the start of the season and the supporters who had made the trip down from Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh to support the Chieftains had a flag with them emblazoned with his nickname Scaley.
“When I lifted the trophy and saw the club members waving the flag with Scaley’s name on it there was definitely a few emotions about,” Forbes, who played across the back division throughout his career, stated.
“It was a really tough time for everyone when he passed away because he was such a big part of the club and an almost ever-present whenever you were at Malleny Park.
“His memory has been with the boys all season and we wanted to do it for him.”
Forbes - who since leaving George Watson’s College in 2009 has played for Watsonians, Currie in two spells, Warringah Rats in Australia and Watsonians in the Super6 competition - confirmed his retirement last week.
He revealed that he nearly retired at the end of last season, but Currie coaching duo Cairns and Donaldson convinced him to give it ‘one last go’. It is fair to say he is glad that he did.
Forbes added: “Over the years the clubs I was with often seemed to win silverware the year after I left them - it happened at Warringah and at Watsonians in the Super6 - so I am glad I could be part of this Currie triumph and it seems a fitting way for me to go out,” the George Watson’s College PE teacher and rugby coach said.
“There are too many people to thank from over the years, but rugby has been a constant passion in my life and most of you will know how special it is to me.
“I always felt I gave everything for all of the clubs I played for and I was coached by some amazing coaches and played with some incredible players. I value every one of them so much.
“I have to single out my parents and my wife Natasha who have been there through everything and always believed in me.
"To be able to celebrate with them after the recent final was a feeling that was so special and the photos I now have with each of them from that day I’ll treasure forever.
“There is so much more I could say, but to the sport I love, simply ‘thank you’.”
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