Edinburgh legend Chris Dean has told how North Berwick is never far away from his heart—or his feet—when he steps to the pitch. The centre made his 144th appearance for the Capital club on Friday as they defeated Ospreys in the BKT URC Origin Round.

The yearly series of fixtures sees players wearing the socks of the grassroots clubs where they started out, and when Edinburgh have done so, Dean has looked to give a twofold tribute. Dean stated, “I like to pay homage to North Berwick.

“I usually wear one red and black sock and then an Edinburgh Academicals sock on my other foot, as they gave me senior opportunity when I left school. “I feel quite lovingly towards North Berwick, for sure. “I know a lot of the people down there.

“Regardless of how many big games or professional games you might play, there are always those fond memories of playing down with your friends when you were young. “You never forget those moments.” Dean first took up the sport with his hometown team, North Berwick. It is a club with an amazing CV when it comes to helping players take their first steps in the game.

Scotland co-captain Rory Darge started out at Recreation Park, while fellow internationals Lewis Carmichael and Tom Brown, plus Saracens lock Callum Hunter-Hill and other famous individuals, have also played their youth rugby for the club.

Dean said: “It has a fairly good alumni for producing some Scottish players over the last 15 to 20 years, which is great. It was the first place I ever picked up a rugby ball.

“I was taken along to mini rugby up at the Recreation Park when I was about five years old. It was the neighborhood club. “On a Saturday morning, you would have rugby at 9.30am, and then you would race across for football at 10.30am.

“It was just the thing to do, with tournaments on a Sunday. “North Berwick is a picturesque seaside town. I was really blessed there. “It’s a stunning place to grow up, with so many things on your doorstep for a kid. “Sport is a big aspect of the community.

“You’ve got the golf heritage, tennis, and watersports, while the rugby club is quite a focal point at the weekends. “It’s really widely supported in the community. “It sits at the top of the hill, and then you roll down into High Street afterwards for all the fun! “The whole concept of the club was to get the ball in your hands and run around and enjoy it.”

Dean began off in the backs at North Berwick but then stepped into the back row when he played school rugby at Edinburgh Academy, which he captained to a cup victory.

He also skippered Scotland under-17s, and such was his talent that he progressed right from school into the national Sevens set-up, receiving an elite development contract at the age of 18.

After his globe-trotting on the Sevens circuit, Dean was granted a first-team deal at Edinburgh Rugby in 2014. He established himself as a major presence in the centre of the club and was picked for Scotland’s Six Nations team in 2019.

A cap has escaped him to date, but he is a well-regarded character in the game, having provided exemplary service to Edinburgh for a decade now, making more than 140 appearances. “This is my 10th season. Time flies for sure,” said the 29-year-old.

“I have been here a long time and seen it evolve. It’s been nothing but delightful. “I am incredibly lucky in terms of the group of players I have gone through with over the years. “Some have retired and what not, but the friends who have come through have stayed close. It’s been extremely enjoyable.”