D’Arcy caps it all on Scotland debut
After more than a year and a half on the fringes D’Arcy Rae has gained his first rugby international cap for Scotland.
The Troon man mountain was in the thick of the action during Saturday’s Murrayfield thriller against Ireland.
And 14 of his close family were among the crowd as their boy took to the pitch in the 68th minute.
They hope this wi l l be the start of a glorious international career for the 24- year- old.
The speedy muscleman - he is 6ft 1in and weighs 19st 10lb - celebrated his debut with selfies with the crowd after the final whistle.
Afterwards his dad Iain, who played with Marr and Ayr, said: “It was a day we will never forget.
“We are all over the moon with pride.”
D’Arcy, a former Marr College pupil, first picked up a rugby ball aged four at Fullarton in Troon.
He said: “Saturday was a special day even though we lost, especially for my family.
“There was a fair old contingent from Troon coming up to see me and you get messages from all over the world, people who you were at school with, even a friend who has moved to Australia to work in the mines.
“It was pretty special.” His parents Iain, 52, and Julie Anne Rae, 53, are “chuffed to bits” and still “pinching themselves”.
They followed D’Arcy’s career to New Zealand, Spain and to Italy when he was on loan to Treviso.
Iain said: “Everyone was there except the two grans as it would have been too long a day for them.
“They watched it on TV back at the house.
“The family has been there every step of the way for him and we are all just over the moon.
“Rugby is all about taking your chances and he has put in the effort. This is now his reward.”
Older brother Nathan, 28, said: “There were tears in our eyes and we had a great boozy day.
“As he presented him with his cap Dee Bradbury, the president of the SRU, said that with a name like D’Arcy and coming from deepest Ayrshire he would have to have been a big guy.”
Marr Rugby Club said: “It was an extremely proud day for our club as the Marr College conveyor belt produces another Scottish internationalist.
“Congratulations to D’Arcy. It is thoroughly deserved after all his hard work. Here’s to many more.”
D’Arcy’s skill as a tighthead prop was honed by Marr coach Craig Redpath.
He also had a spell at Ayr and is now playing pro at Glasgow Warriors.
He was named in the international squad last year but never got a start.
That followed being capped 18 times at under- 20 level and playing for the under- 17s.
Certainly the whole of Troon is hoping D’Arcy will be starting the France game in Paris on February 23.