Young Gun: Tom Galbraith – Scotland U20s centre

Scotland U20s have made a very good start to 2016 and centre Tom Galbraith wants them to push on and become the best crop of players the North of the Border has seen.
Last season the Scots claimed their best Six Nations finish with three wins but struggled at the Junior World Cup in Italy, winning only one pool game and finishing eighth.
Like most of his current teammates, centre Galbraith was part of a young squad last season but the experience they gained showed in the first game, beating England and the 20-year-old is looking to do the same against France and Ireland in the last two rounds of the Six Nations before the JWC in Manchester in June.
“We haven’t spoken too much about the JWC yet but our main goal at the start of the season was to be the best Scotland U20s there ever was,” he told The Rugby Paper.
“We have a lot of the boys who played last season and we know what to expect at this level. It’s a pretty quick game, like at school, but it’s more physical and you’ve got to take each and every opportunity that comes your way.
“Beating England and Italy was good but it was disappointing to lose on the last kick of the game against Wales after leading 15-5 at the break.
“They haven’t lost yet but we can still win the Six Nations as long as we win our last two games. Our target was to finish in a better position than last year where we won three games. We’ve won two so far and there are two games left. That makes our mindset for the last two games pretty simple.”
Galbraith left Glenalmond College in 2014 after captaining them to Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Plate glory and linked up full-time with the Edinburgh academy.
Making his Pro12 debut is his long-term goal but he is realistic about the road ahead and he is learning his trade on loan with Melrose in the Scottish Premiership.
He said: “It’s good for me to get some experience with Melrose. The level is pretty high in the Scottish Premiership because most teams tend to have a couple of professional players from Edinburgh or Glasgow who are not playing in the Pro12.
“Playing with men it is not as quick as the U20s but it’s more physical so it’s a great stepping stone for me at my age.
“I’d love to play for Edinburgh as early as possible but you have to be realistic and looking to make my debut within the next two seasons is probably more reasonable.
“My main focus is definitely the U20s to make sure we win our next two games and go into the JWC with some momentum.”