Mark Bennett in frame for emerging player award

Mark Bennett was in fine form for Scotland at the Rugby World Cup. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The Glasgow back is one of three nominees for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Award 2015.

The talented 22-year-old from Cumnock scored three times for the Dark Blues at England 2015 - including his late intercept score which put the Scots on the brink of a semi-final slot last week before Australia snatched victory with a controversial penalty at Twickenham.

Award judges, which include 139-times Australia cap George Gregan and former Argentinian centre Felipe Contepomi, nominated Bennett for the prestigious award alongside New Zealand’s Nehe Milner-Skudder and Georgia’s Vasil Lobzhanidze.

World Rugby’s grounds for recognition were: “A player who has burst on to the rugby scene showing tremendous skill throughout the year and has played no more than one year of international rugby.”

Bennett said: “I was absolutely over the moon when I realised I was up for the award. It’s fair to say I was completely surprised, too.

“I haven’t played much rugby this season, and the international stage has been a big step up, but I’ve loved every second of it.”

Bennett made his international debut in Scotland’s 41-31 autumn Test win over Argentina at BT Murrayfield last year.

He went on to make his mark in the RBS 6 Nations, donning the starting 13 shirt in all five games and scoring against both Italy and England.

He opened his World Cup with a brace of touchdowns in the 45-10 victory over Japan which kicked-off Scotland’s tournament.

But despite crossing the whitewash again with just seven minutes left against the Aussies, his side were denied a place in the last four when referee Craig Joubert wrongly awarded Michael Cheika’s team a last-minute kick at goal which ultimately saw them scrape a 35-34 win.

Australia will now take on the All Blacks in Sunday’s final but Bennett is staying positive.

He said: “It’s surreal that as a child I sat and watched the Rugby World Cup and now I’m one of the guys kids watch.

“We felt that we did so well as a team, and were unfortunate not to progress further in the competition.

“The support was unreal. There was a great Scottish contingent at every match throughout, and especially at the final game against Australia - it felt like the whole of Twickenham was behind us.”

The award winner will be announced at the World Rugby Awards dinner in London on Sunday, November 1.