Edinburgh Prop Ewan McQuillin, who has been a stand-out for Gala this year, will spend 15 weeks in Christchurch, New Zealand, playing for local clubs and profiting from first-class coaching and facilities through the Canterbury RFU International High Performance Unit. McQuillin, 22, was given the opportunity as he was named as the latest recipient of the prestigious John Macphail scholarship.

Previous Macphail scholars include Scotland caps John Barclay, Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray.

McQuillin, who has played for the Scotland Club International side, was nurtured by Galashiels Academy, Gala Red Triangle, Gala Wanderers and the senior Gala club and his scrummaging strength has impressed coaches including former Scotland caps Stevie Scott and George Graham.

He said: “I’m really privileged to get this chance. It’s a really good opportunity for me to learn from some of the best player in the world, like All Blacks prop Owen Franks.

“I’ve spoken to quite a few of the Edinburgh Rugby boys who have been on the scholarship and they all spoke of how great an opportunity it is to work on your skills in another country and to spend the whole summer focussed on getting a good bit of game time under my belt before coming back fit for the new season in the UK.” The Macphail Scholarship was established in memory of former Scotland hooker John Macphail, who died in 2004.

Kenneth Ferguson, Director of the Robertson Scholarship Trust, said: “This is our tenth year now and, as ever, we are very much looking forward to witnessing the impact on the players’ skills and overall development from their stint in New Zealand this summer. “If they seize the opportunity, just as previous recipients of the scholarship, then we have no doubt both they and the game of rugby in Scotland can benefit.”