GULLANE rugby ace Callum Hunter-Hill led Scotland to their highest ever finish at the U20 World Rugby Championships in Georgia at the weekend.

The young Scots emulated the achievements of the senior side by beating Australia on Sunday.

A last-gasp try by Charlie Shiel, son of ex-Scotland cap Graham, helped the Scots clinch fifth place, much to the delight of their skipper.

Hunter-Hill said: “It is a really proud moment for me individually and as a team.

“I am so so proud of the team and we are so proud of each other.”

John Dalziel, the outgoing Scotland U20 head coach, also praised the squad, saying: “We equalled our best finish last year so to jump up to fifth this year is really excellent.

“It just about building that momentum and trying to build on that next year.”

Wins over Italy, Ireland, Wales and Australia saw Dalziel’s side finish three places higher than Scotland U20’s previous best finish, of eighth, where they ended the competition in the past two years.

And 20-year-old Hunter-Hill, a former Gullane Primary and North Berwick High School pupil, will now look forward to pre-season with Edinburgh Rugby after penning a contract to play for the Capital outfit.

 

He was part of the BT Scottish Rugby National Academy last term and turned out for Glasgow Warriors in the Pro12, but will move along the M8 as part of Richard Cockerill’s Burgh squad.

And he added: “Going into adult rugby is pretty daunting because that is age grade rugby done and dusted but it is exciting times.”

The towering lock will be one of five East Lothian stars at Edinburgh Rugby next season, as he joins fellow second row Lewis Carmichael, back-row Ally Miller, centre Chris Dean and winger Tom Brown in the squad.