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Burleigh hoping to grasp Scotland chance

PhilBurleigh
The chance to honour his ancestral and now adopted homeland is something Phil Burleigh cannot pass up lightly.

The chance to honour his ancestral and now adopted homeland is something Phil Burleigh cannot pass up lightly.

The New Zealand-born centre, who signed from the Otago Highlanders in June 2014, has now qualified to play for Scotland and was invited by coach Gregor Townsend to join the squad at their recent St Andrews training camp.

The 30-year-old has a lot more connection to Scotland than simply playing for one of its biggest clubs, with his great grandparents coming from Aberdeen.

And having been offered to opportunity to join the Scotland side, Burleigh is desperate to make his mark on the international stage.

“They [Scotland] approached me. I knew it was coming around although I’d forgotten that the three years would come that quickly. Gregor got in touch with me and told me, so I was delighted,” he said.

“It’s something I guess which developed while I have been here. I guess I’ve immersed myself right into the culture. I’m here now and really enjoying it and feel a part of it.

“I’ve been around everywhere. My great grandparents were born in Aberdeen and obviously went to New Zealand at some point, so I do have Scottish blood in me. I’ve really enjoyed myself here. Edinburgh, the city itself, is brilliant.”

Burleigh has only recently returned from injury and made his first appearance of the season for Edinburgh last week.

Having got a taste of the international set-up, Burleigh is more focused than ever on getting his head down and working hard at club level.

“I’m extremely proud to have made that initial squad but now I’ve got to do a lot more and my concentration at the moment is with Edinburgh,” he said.