He earned his call-up to the Scotland squad on the back of a fine season for Edinburgh and is determined to continue to make progress in the new campaign after signing a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2010.

The 22-year-old said: "Over the past 12 months, everything has turned out absolutely brilliant; after playing regularly for Edinburgh last season I was given my Scotland debut and then played in the win in Buenos Aires.

"I turn 23 in September, so I realise I still have a lot to learn, but working with Andy (Robinson) and Rob (Moffat) on a day-to-day basis gives me the perfect environment to keep pushing myself on."