Boroughmuir's Malcolm Clapperton is on a club and country quest

BOROUGHMUIR stalwart Malcolm Clapperton has acknowledged an extra incentive as club rugby prepares to come out of cold storage tomorrow with his side visiting Edinburgh Accies at Raeburn Place, writes BILL LOTHIAN.

The 31-year-old centre stands on the brink of an elite who have played three consecutive seasons for the Scottish clubs' international side.

But, with the opening fixture looming against France at Galashiels on Friday 5 February, time is running out to impress selectors. That's why Clapperton and others in the provisional Scottish squad are eager to put their hands up, especially as a month has elapsed since the last full round of fixtures.

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"There's no doubt the introduction of club internationals has been one of the best innovations of the past few years and I'd love to be involved again," says Clapperton, who made three Magners Celtic League appearances for Edinburgh earlier in his career.

"While the clubs international is a big attraction there is also real need to help Boroughmuir rediscover a bit of consistency in what was always going to be a transitional season," he added.

The Meggetland side occupy ninth place just six points above the drop zone and one of their defeats came in a rousing encounter with Accies.

"We went down 34-40 in what was a cracking game of rugby and it would be great to produce something similar tomorrow although for sure the ground conditions are going to be a bit heaver than when we met in the Autumn."

At least the snow has allowed the likes of 'Muir captain Euan Matheson extra time to overcome a hamstring problem and Clapperton makes it clear that every bit of experience is welcome. "At a stroke we lost Ben Fisher, Matt Cannon and Angus Martyn either through injury, retirement or moving away from the area.

"With Euan also being injured, it has fallen to the likes of myself, Calum Cusiter and Lynton Brinck to try to give a lead and I'm certainly happy to do that."

Also in Edinburgh tomorrow, Stewart's Melville are hopeful of entertaining West at Inverleith while Currie are bound for Selkirk. The Glasgow Hawks versus Watsonians clash has already been postponed.