Ryan Grant revealed he has been soldiering on during pre-season in a bid to make the breakthrough into Edinburgh’s front row during the forthcoming campaign and likened the preparation work to his experiences in the Army.
Former Royal Signaller Grant, 22, joined Edinburgh last summer and made four replacement appearances for the Black and Red Army during the 2007/2008 season.
But the Kirkcaldy-born prop admits he is aiming to rack up more game-time next term and says the pre-season graft is similar to basic training in the forces.
Grant: “Army training is very difficult but it is very similar to pre-season in that you do everything as a team.
Ryan is in next season and you can join him in a vibrant squad of young Scottish talent as Edinburgh challenge for the 1872 Cup, Heineken Cup and Magners League. For more details please call 0131 346 5180 and reserve your place at The Castle. Remember that once you buy a 2008/2009 season ticket you are then entitled to complimentary admission to the Wasps friendly match where you can also bring a friend for FREE.
“Whenever you do anything in the Army whether it is a log run or a run with the back-packs on you always do it groups of 20 and 30. So you’ve always got mates there to gee you on.
“It is like that in rugby. Whenever we do ‘caveman’ sessions or high heart-rate stuff there is always someone there to keep you going.
“But the Army training is less intense and more drawn out. It is more about doing 10 mile runs while rugby training is a lot shorter, sharper and more intense.
“I just want to achieve game-time next season. I didn’t get much last year and I’m hoping to impress Andy (Robinson) so that I can get a run of games.”
The Stirling County front rower was loaned out to Exeter Chiefs last season, but unfortunately did not experience any game-time in Devon – much to his disappointment.
He added: “That was probably the low point of my season last year. I went down there and didn’t get any game time.
“They had told Andy one thing about what they wanted to do with me and ended up doing something completely different.”
But Grant says the disappointment of non-selection has made him an even stronger character and he now feels better equipped to cope with the highs and lows of professional rugby.
He said: “I definitely feel more resilient towards not being selected. In my first year of professional rugby, everything went well for me and I played quite a lot of games. Then there was the sudden contrast of not playing any games and having to fight for a spot.
“This year I’m better prepared and I know how to handle the situation if it should happen again.”
Already capped at Scotland A level, Grant realises his primary objective is to establish himself at Edinburgh before he can target a call-up into Scotland’s senior squad.
But he believes his knowledge is improving – largely because of the help he has received from his competition, Scotland prop Gavin Kerr.
He said: “My ultimate goal is to play for Scotland. But to be realistic this coming season I want to play for Edinburgh and if I get into the Scotland A team as a result of that then it would be a bonus.
“But just right now I want to focus on getting game-time and playing well for Edinburgh.
“We have got a world-class front row playing at Edinburgh. Guys like ‘Chunk’ and Gav are up there with the best of them.
“It is good having those guys around and it helps the younger boys push on. I hope I’ve learnt a lot from them and Gav really helps me out with my scrummaging.”
