Rugby: Scotland's man of Orr

The Boroughmuir flanker, a student of management and marketing at Heriot-Watt University, shared in both recent wins for the national under-19 side against Italy and a France side who travelled last weekend boasting the recent scalp of South Africa's national team.

Just over a year ago, though, Orr feared for his future in the oval ball game with surgeons even hinting that he might be better finding a less robust sport.

This stemmed from a kidney operation which followed on from a bout of septicaemia which meant no rugby between captaining Scotland under-17s and the beginning of this season.

"There were suggestions I might look at playing another sport but I was determined to carry on if possible," said Orr. "Hopefully, I have confirmed I am now 100 per cent and those victories for Scotland under-19s in the last few weeks went a long way to making up for missing the whole of a potential under-18 representative season."

Throughout his trauma, Orr, who debuted for Boroughmuir in the Premiership aged just 17 – in a feat shared by 48-cap Ally Hogg as another precocious youngster – was kept in the loop by rugby bosses.

He said: "It would have been easy for them to have just forgotten about me and, to be honest, I felt I was going in at the deep end when finally returning this season.

"As I searched for fitness I jumped between the Boroughmuir first and second teams; fortunately the season ended strongly helped by the way I was encouraged to keep training with the under-19s."

In total, Cammy has represented Muir five times with a similar number of appearances from off the bench, though latterly his opportunities in club colours have been restricted by the need to prepare for Scotland duty including warm-up games.

A fitness test on a strained hamstring sustained against the French is likely to determine whether he returns to Boroughmuir ranks against title-chasing Currie at Malleny Park this weekend but he is already planning beyond that.

"For the first time in a while, I intend to have proper pre-season training. 2010-11 will be my under-20 representative year if selected and I intend to make the most of it.

"The current under-19 team has a really good spirit and that's what helped pull us through against the French in particular.

"Beating Italy 32-3 provided the confidence boost we needed going into that match. Then, when the chips were down and we found ourselves backed up on our try-line at the start and especially at the end we found a way of holding France out to beat them 30-25.

"Although the star of the show was our stand off Duncan Weir (Glasgow Hawks) with his four penalties and a drop goal to keep the scoreboard ticking over brilliantly, overall it was a team effort.

"That's why there was such elation at full time. We had been dismissed as underdogs but still managed to come good and hopefully we can stay together for a while longer."

The under-19s are coached by Heriot's Bob McKillop who paid tribute to his charges. "I thought we were outstanding against a big, athletic French team," said McKillop. "The boys were outstanding – not just in terms of their guts and commitment, but also in terms of the quality of rugby showed.

"We could have scored a couple more tries there, so we are really pleased. We've go some outstanding individuals in the team, but it is the collective effort shown by the squad which was fantastic.

"The coaching staff and the players bonded really well and, if I do have one regret, it is that we don't have another game next week."

Also part of the successful under-19 squad which played against Italy and France were Stewart's-Melville winger Michael Doneghan, Edinburgh Accies hooker David Cherry and Watsonian full back Jamie Forbes.