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Scotland under-20 standoff Ross Thompson has praised Peter and George Horne for the influence they have had on his game ahead of the biggest test of his fledgling career this evening against England at Myreside.

Last summer Thompson, 18, left Stewart’s Melville College in the capital and headed to Glasgow University to study law not knowing at what level his rugby would continue.

However, he was taken on board by the BT Sport Academy and at Glasgow Hawks by head coach Finlay Gillies, who backed the teenager to start games at No 10 in the BT Premiership. Along with backs coach and Scotland cap Peter Horne and Warriors scrum-half George Horne, whowasplayingforhawks at the time, they started to build up his confidence in the senior ranks.

Thompson, pictured, came off the bench against Wales in week one of the agegrade Six Nations, started against France 13 days ago and starts again in this one.

“The jump from school rugby to Hawks was massive,” admits Thompson. “Then the step to the under-20s was another level in terms of pace and physicality.

“George helped me while Fin Gillies has been a big part of my transition into senior rugby and Pete Hornehasreallyhelpedme massively to try and focus on my game and magnified the little, small aspects of things that I need to do.

“England will be tough, they are a good outfit, but we are getting better so hopefully we can tackle it head on.”