Grant heads to Auckland for game time

PRIZE guy Roddy Grant admits he will be looking to salvage his rugby season when taking up a scholarship with Auckland University rugby club later this month.

The 21-year-old flanker, part of the Heriot's and National Academy set-up, sustained serious knee damage training with Edinburgh last summer and, so far, appearances in 2007-08 have been restricted to a couple of international sevens tournaments with Scotland. Said Grant: "The prospect of missing a season was not good and now I can get 12 games through the Macphail Scholarship; hugely exciting."

Son of Ian Grant, former Edinburgh University and Langholm centre, Roddy says he was inspired by being in the crowd when Gavin Hastings scored a tournament record 44 points as Scotland defeated Ivory Coast in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

"I grew up in Southern Africa but have always wanted to play for Scotland and it is a thrill knowing that Gavin once played for Auckland University."

• A THANKSGIVING service will be held on Thursday at St Philip's Church, Joppa (11am) for former Musselburgh rugby president George Tweedale who died suddenly last week.