Matt Scott

The Gloucester centre is back in the mix for Scotland’s summer tour

MATT SCOTT hit the ground running as a professional player, turning seamlessly from a promising fly-half at Currie into an accomplished centre for Edinburgh and Scotland. He then had his troubles with injury and national selection, but this season has found renewed zeal at Gloucester – scoring nine Premiership tries – to earn a Test recall for Scotland’s tour to Singapore, Sydney and Suva. Here he talks Fiji, philosophy and fine dining… It was an up-and-down year with Gloucester, a real roller coaster. Just when you think we have turned the corner, we have then thrown away countless games. We beat some of the best teams in the league and yet lost to teams below us. But to make a European final (Challenge Cup) was great.

I have enjoyed playing in a different atmosphere. I love the history between clubs in the Premiership, the rivalries and the different venues. I’ve come from Edinburgh where they’ve struggled to find an identity, whereas Gloucester is a rugby town and it’s almost easy for them to get people through the gates. People always ask me what the difference is between the Pro12 and the Premiership. Really, it’s not too much. I loved my time at Edinburgh but in the Premiership every team has something to play for. In many fixtures teams are fighting for their lives. It’s a cliche but there are no easy games.

I needed to get out of Edinburgh, not just for the rugby. When I joined Gloucester I only really knew Greig Laidlaw and it was about proving myself from scratch. At this stage it’s little details that make the difference. I’ve also been fit for most of the season. I’ve played at 13, in wide channels. That wasn’t something I was used to at Edinburgh and you need to get accustomed to that. I was used to running hard onto the ball, but here you let the pass come to you. It’s about practising in open space more.

I live in Cheltenham. The Cotswolds are really nice and the missus and I have explored a bit. Sometimes it’s hopping over puddles – it’s got that real country feel to it. I thought Edinburgh was quite small; here it’s even smaller. We’ve had to adjust and it’s given us the chance to get out and look around. It’s funny to think I’m the most capped back on the Scotland tour. In my first three years with Scotland things were really good; before I got some injuries

I was starting all the time. I wasn’t selected in the autumn when I thought I’d been playing some of my best rugby in years, which was tough. Then I came in for an injury (to Mark Bennett) in the Six Nations. I’m quite good at being philosophical. I’ve always said in the last few years that I didn’t care if things hadn’t gone my way. Form goes up and down; coaches can move on. I’m glad I’ve kept my patience. These things work in cycles.

I should have retired back in 2012! I was on cloud nine all of that year. I’d come from nowhere. I played for Currie in September, but fast-forward six months and I’d been in a Heineken Cup semi-final and gone on Scotland’s summer tour. My first start came in that win against Australia in Newcastle. Then we went to Fiji and Samoa. That was one of the best tours anyone had ever been on – boys still talk about it. We spent ten days in Manly before the Wallabies game; we played volleyball for hours. It was great craic and we won all three games.

I’m quite keen to try new things. I’d say I’m an adventurous tourist – I don’t just sit in the hotel. I’m also a keen foodie. In fact, we were heading out for a nice dinner in Edinburgh when I asked my partner Ruth to marry me. I asked her to go for a walk up Calton Hill – thankfully she didn’t click. I sometimes think of how different my life could have been. There was a big period of time when rugby wasn’t a real career choice. I was studying for my law degree and I would happily have played for Currie for the rest of my days.

I maybe wouldn’t have become a lawyer.

I only did the degree because I didn’t know what I wanted to do after school. Law gives you the chance to do so many other things.

I was good at English and did think about journalism or sports writing.

I do miss home sometimes. But I can see myself staying down here in the Premiership for a long time.