Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, Chris?
A: I recently wrapped up my professional rugby career, and I spent my entire career with the Glasgow Warriors from 2010 to 2021. I also had the privilege of representing Scotland and earned 4 caps. Now, I’m back in Fife, not far from where I grew up. I’ve joined the family business, Luvians, which has a chain of bottle shops that specialize in high-quality whiskies, wines, and beers, and we even make our own ice cream on-site. I’m married to Katie, and we have three children: Sofia, Freddie, and Nora.
Q: What initially led you to pursue a career in professional rugby?
A: Becoming a professional rugby player wasn’t my original plan. I had success with the Howe of Fife and Bell Baxter High School rugby teams. When I enrolled at Edinburgh University to study Chemical Engineering, I joined Heriots rugby club. After being selected to play 7’s rugby for Scotland during my first year at university, I eventually got signed to the national academy, where I underwent two years of training. That led to my signing with Glasgow Warriors in 2010.
Q: Let’s switch gears and talk about eyesight and night lenses. Can you share your experience with daily lenses and rugby? Did you ever have one fall out onto the pitch? What prompted you to switch to night lenses?
A: I started using daily lenses as a teenager, and they worked well for rugby. My catching skills improved, at least a bit! However, I was terrible at putting them in, and if they fell out during a game, I would run to the sideline, and my mum would insert a spare lens for me. I only learned to do it myself shortly before heading off to university. Embarrassing, I know! Once I began playing professionally, it became one more thing to worry about when I should have been focused on my pre-game preparation and match performance. I frequently lost lenses during games. The concept of wearing a lens overnight and waking up with perfect vision, without anything in my eye to worry about on match day, truly transformed my experience.
Q: How did night lenses benefit your rugby career?
A: Night lenses reduced the list of concerns on game days, ensuring my vision was crisp and clear, which is crucial in any sport. They played a significant role in allowing me to perform at the highest level.
Q: Can you explain how your depth perception and ability to judge distances improved after switching to night lenses?
A: Night lenses made a world of difference in my depth perception and distance judgment. This improvement boosted my confidence on the field, transforming me from a rugby player with fuzzy vision into one who saw everything clearly.
Q: Why would you recommend night lenses to others?
A: Regardless of your profession, night lenses are a fantastic choice. There’s no waste associated with daily lenses, and you can’t lose a lens when you’re out and about since there’s nothing in your eye to lose! You’ll never accidentally dislodge your lens from your eye while at work, during your commute, or worst of all, while driving. It’s one less thing to worry about in the busy routines that have become the norm for most people.
Q: You’ve traveled around the world to play rugby. Can you share your favorite stadium where you’ve played?
A: I had the incredible opportunity to play in Hong Kong during the 7’s World Series. The city has a rich rugby heritage, and it was an amazing place to visit. The atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable; it felt like a three-day party in the stands. It’s a memory that will stay with me for a long time.
Q: Who was your rugby inspiration on the field?
A: Richie McCaw was my rugby hero. He was New Zealand’s number 7 when I was growing up, and he maintained his exceptional performance throughout his entire career. He even captained the All Blacks to back-to-back World Cups, which is an incredible feat!