Alexandria rugby star Duncan Munn has admitted that operating out for Scotland towards England on the under-20s Six Nations was an emotional expertise.
The 18-year-old exterior centre, who got here by the ranks at Loch Lomond and presently performs for Boroughmuir Bears, began all 5 Six Nations matches for Kenny Murray’s aspect – and mirrored on a character-building event for the younger Scots.
He mentioned: “The outcomes actually weren’t what we needed. It was robust going at instances.
“We felt we might’ve acquired a bit extra out of some video games. We had been aggressive in all of the video games for components, however over the total 80 minutes we dropped off at instances.
“The entire expertise was superb although. All of the boys acquired on so properly, we had a very tight-knit group which helped us by these robust instances.
“The expertise of travelling to locations like Italy was actually good for going ahead.
“The England recreation was positively an emotional one. A few nights earlier than we had been proven messages from the Scotland crew on the resort and the coach, Kenny, gave us a chat. You might see just a few boys had tears of their eyes. It was positively particular.
“Once we ran out and had been lining up for the anthems, I knew the place mum and pop had been sitting. I’d seen all of the Loch Lomond hats.
“I knew if I regarded and made eye contact then I in all probability would’ve gone, so I discovered some empty seats to take a look at as an alternative and simply centered on them.”
Munn’s call-up was a proud second for his rugby-mad household, with brothers Gregor and Lewis each gamers at Loch Lomond and oldsters John and Angela each closely concerned in operating the membership.
Nonetheless, his place within the squad got here as a shock to mum Angela, who solely came upon at work.
She defined: “Duncan didn’t inform anybody. I came upon on social media while I used to be at work.
“To be honest to Duncan he solely came upon the night time earlier than, however he hadn’t advised us. So I came upon at work.
“I’m a trainer and fortuitously the kids had all gone dwelling. I believe I shouted and shrieked a wee bit after which ran down the hall to inform anybody who would hear!”
And Angela added that she discovered the build-up to the video games a nerve-wracking expertise.
She defined: “I get so nervous earlier than all of the boys’ video games, even when Duncan performed at Loch Lomond and once I’m watching Gregor and Lewis. I simply really feel actually nervous.
“As soon as I acquired into the stadium and also you had been in with the group, the environment on the video games with England and France had been superb, then that takes your thoughts off it.
“I’ve watched Duncan play for therefore lengthy and I’ve acquired actual confidence in him. It’s simply the build-up that’s nerve-wracking."
While dad John added that it was one other huge second within the historical past of Loch Lomond Rugby Membership.
He mentioned: “Everybody on the membership was very happy with him. They had been all sending him messages of assist, and fairly just a few of them went alongside to observe the video games.
“It was a very large step for the membership to take.”
Duncan is now getting ready for the Super6 Dash collection tonight (Friday April 15), when his Boroughmuir Bears aspect journey to Ayr.
He added: “We began coaching once more final week and we’ve acquired six or seven video games earlier than there’s one other Scotland tour being deliberate.”