Heriot's hooker off to NZ

FINLAY GILLIES, 21-year-old Heriot's hooker, is the latest recipient of the prestigious Macphail Scholarship which will allow him to spend the summer playing rugby in Auckland, New Zealand, writes BILL LOTHIAN.

For the ex-Scotland under-20 internationalist it will be a chance to make up for lost time as well as follow in the footsteps of the likes of Scotland's Johnnie Barclay, a previous winner, and Edinburgh's A internationalist, Roddy Grant.

After representing Scotland under-20s at the world championships in Japan last summer Gillies suffered neck damage and while on the road to recovery injured his ankle.

That meant his entry to the season was delayed until mid-January when he came off the bench for Heriot's at Dundee.

A product of Dunbar Grammar School and Haddington Rugby, Gillies said: "I'm determined to make the very most of what will be a fantastic opportunity and very aware that past recipients of the scholarship have been bright enough to use it as a vehicle not just to improve their skills but to demonstrate that they are ready to step up to the professional game. That has to be my target too."