Edinburgh centre hoping to cap whirlwind season with Scotland debut

Matt Currie hopes to cap a whirlwind season for club and country by making his Scotland debut in Saturday’s ‘A’ team match against Chile.

The 21-year-old Edinburgh centre is currently in South America on the national team’s summer tour after being called up to Gregor Townsend’s squad for the first time earlier this month.

“Things have gone very quickly for me,” said Currie. “I signed my first pro contract this year and now being here with Scotland is pretty awesome.

“The call-up came completely out the blue. I had no idea. It’s obviously something a lot of boys strive for because they want to go on the summer tours but I was just focusing on doing well for Edinburgh.

“It’s an opportunity I’m really grateful to have. It’s the best players in the country and they’re a great group of boys, so it’s an opportunity to learn and better myself.

“If the opportunity comes to play for my country, that’s massive for me and my family. I’d love to be involved against Chile. Playing rugby this season has been great but playing for Scotland is a massive goal of mine and something I’m really striving for.”

After Saturday’s game against Chile in Santiago, Scotland face three consecutive Tests against Argentina in July.

Currie is enjoying the chance to experience new countries in the early stages of his rugby career.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “Rugby gives you great opportunities to travel. With Edinburgh, we were in Cape Town this season and I’ve never been to South America before so the opportunity to go to Chile and Argentina is huge.

“There are a lot of familiar faces from Edinburgh in the squad and I know a few of the other young boys from playing under-20s. It’s great getting to know the other boys I’m not as familiar with though.”

With a World Cup on the horizon in just over a year’s time, Currie knows being part of the Scotland camp over the next month is a good opportunity to establish himself in Townsend’s thoughts.

“I’ve not thought too far ahead, I’m just focusing on this summer tour and trying to get as much rugby as possible,” he said. “But if I play my best rugby, you never know what might happen.