Scotland’s trip to face Wales at Principality Stadium on Saturday will hold extra significance for Grant Gilchrist, with the lock set to represent his country for the 50th time.
And as he prepares to pass a milestone, the 31-year-old has reflected on just how far he’s come in the past decade.
Having played for Scotland at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20s level, Gilchrist made his senior international debut in 2013.
It came in a Guinness Six Nations loss to France in the final round of that year’s Championship but is still a moment the second-rower looks back on fondly.
He told Scottish Rugby: “Oh, you don’t forget your first cap! I was a young lad, 22, playing alongside guys like Big Jim [Hamilton] and Al [Kellock] on a wet night in Paris. I remember it was a typically French 9pm kick-off; it was the longest day ever, knowing I was starting!
“It was a close game, 23-16, I had all my family across to watch and it was a special, special night.”
Over the years Gilchrist has contested many classic matches in the famous Scotland blue, particularly at BT Murrayfield.
Among those include the historic 25-13 Calcutta Cup triumph in 2018 – a first Scottish victory over England for ten years – and it’s a match that holds extra significance for Gilchrist given that he attended another famous Championship victory as a youngster.
Alongside his grandfather, a then nine-year-old Gilchrist was in the crowd as a Duncan Hodge-inspired Scotland beat England 19-13 in Edinburgh in 2000.
“It’s the earliest memory of coming to BT Murrayfield and we were in one of the front rows, getting rained on throughout, but it was a first taste of just how good the atmosphere is at the stadium,” he reminisced.
“I had to wait quite a while to play England at home in 2018. The atmosphere was pretty much unrivalled for me to this day, the best I’ve had in my career; it was unbelievable how passionate and noisy the crowd were.
“I’m sure people were still there an hour after full-time, so it shows how massive that win was for us. That and the New Zealand game in 2017 are the two that stick out in terms of being beyond your dreams and I just absolutely love playing at BT Murrayfield.”
Despite the high of making his debut in 2013 the next few years proved tricky for Gilchrist, often struggling with injury and not being involved in international action.
Gilchrist did not feature in Guinness Six Nations action again until 2017, though he has since played a key role in Gregor Townsend’s plans.
“I’ve had campaigns when I’ve been a first choice and played a lot, had years when I’ve picked up a few caps here and there, but I’ve managed to play at a level when I’ve been competing for a place for a long time now – and it’s something I plan on continuing to do for a while yet,” added Gilchrist.
“Every time I go into camp I’m looking for the opportunity to play and I’ve always been like that. I feel like I’ve had conversations when not selected and my reaction is always the same: what can I do to get back in?
“And that’s always been my attitude; I want these experiences as much as possible and hopefully reach that 50.”
