Scotland call-up delights Grove

The 21-year-old Sixways sensation, who has been named in the former England coach’s 32-man set-up for the forthcoming autumn internationals, caught the eye for Scotland ‘A’ during their IRB Nations Cup-winning trip to Romania over the summer.

The Warriors academy graduate said: “I’m over the moon. I’m still pinching myself from getting the call-up on Wednesday and can’t wait to join up with Scotland.

“Andy Robinson said during the tour to Romania that the senior squad could include new faces if players were performing consistently in the weeks leading up to the team being announced.

“I had felt that I had given myself a chance with my form early season which has been pretty solid and consistent and so to get the call is fantastic.

“It’s been an unbelievable 12 months for me. However, crucially, this is where it starts now and there is still much to do.

“Getting a call-up is great, but what I need to do now is go on the training camps and show I am worth a place in the team.

“The competition for places will be fierce, I have seen the great names in the squad, and all I can do is give it everything to be involved. If I do that I will be happy.

“The games are at Murrayfield and it would be great to play there for a first time for the senior side. It will be a special and proud day for me and my family and I just hope I can get that chance against Fiji.”

He added: “I have a lot of people at Warriors to credit for this chance.

“A lot of thanks has to go to Andrew Stanley and Gary Meechan in the academy, who played such a huge role in my development and setting me off down this path.

“Mike Ruddock and all the coaching staff have also been great with me. If it wasn’t for them and the faith they put in me this wouldn’t be happening.”