Rugby: Hamilton warns Gray over place

Published on Monday 11 July 2011 12:32

JIM HAMILTON has warned second row rival Richie Gray he won't be an automatic selection for this Autumn's rugby World Cup despite being one of the stars of the last Six Nations Championship.

Ex-Edinburgh ace Hamilton, 28, is battling back from injury which caused him to miss the last Six Nations during which Gray, 21, made four starts, missing out against Wales only because of illness.

"Everything's competitive now. Richie Gray is the young buck, the spring chicken who's fit and fresh and making a good impression. So that's what drives me," writes Hamilton in a diary from within Scotland's training camp for the Gloucester Citizen.

With captain-elect Al Kellock almost certain to claim the other second row berth, Hamilton has to target the role filled by Gray and, since both are of similar size at 6ft 8in and weighing in around 19 and a half stone, he will be hoping extra experience - 31 caps to 10 caps - can be made to count.

On current rivalry, Hamilton says: "I speak to him (Gray) and ask him what weight he's going to lift in the gym, and he's really laid back, but I tell him he's the young generation and he's got to set the standard.

"It's good banter and it's right to want to push ourselves and each other to be better, but it's also worth remembering to keep perspective.

"What happens now is important, but it's not the gym or conditioning or weights that count when it comes to the matches.

"For the last four or five years I was a regular starter and involved centrally, but with the injuries last year I missed out on the Six Nations. So, coming back into this, it almost felt like starting from scratch, having to prove myself to the lads and to find my niche again.

"That was unusual, but I've had to earn respect all over again.

"Hopefully I've earned that respect, but I'll continue to work hard to show the lads how much it means."

Next week the squad are expected to train individually before the build-up begins to the opening warm-up match against Ireland at Murrayfield on August 6.