Alloa's rugby star Grant gets national call
Published 28 Nov 2012 09:30
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ALLOA Rugby Club members past and present were delighted to see their former star Grant Gilchrist in the Scotland squad for the first time in the Scot's 15-21 defeat to Tonga on Saturday.
Grant didn't appear in that game and fans across Alloa will no doubt have been screaming out for his introduction but unfortunately, Gilchrist's quest for his first full cap is not over just yet.
With a change of manager now on the cards for Scotland, Grant, 22, will be confident of getting another chance as the new boss will look to work on the problems that blighted former coach Andy Robinson's last few months.
Gilchrist currently plies his trade for Edinburgh Rugby and was a major part of the club's historic Heineken Cup campaign in 2011.
The powerful lock forward is a graduate of Edinburgh's Development Programme but the 22-year-old was schooled at Lornshill Academy and received his grounding in the game at Alloa RFC.
Gilchrist then moved to Stirling County, and has represented Scotland at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level.
ARFC President, Gary McPhail said, "We are obviously delighted at Grant's call up to the Full International squad and I have already contacted him to express how extremely proud we at Alloa RFC are of all of his achievements.
"He richly deserves it, not only for the commitment and dedication that he displays towards his sport, but also because he is a genuinely nice, well rounded young man.
"Grant was brought up at our club, and was fully immersed in the traditions of club rugby from an early age, which was no great surprise considering that his Father, Tommy, is a former captain and grandfather, Terry, is a former president.
"Grant played at Stand Off in our Youth sides where he perfected his ball handling skills, which have stood him in good stead as he is remarkably talented in this area for such a big lad.
"I also remember his debut for the first XV as a 16-year-old and the immense sense of pride that his Father had when he fulfilled his lifelong ambition of lining up in the same Alloa side as his son."
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 28 Nov 12
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