HARRY PATERSON

The Edinburgh full-back is hungry for more after his memorable Test debut

- Josh Graham

THROUGH THE course of our chat with young flyer Harry Paterson, we learn that the Edinburgh man is bang into his watches.

But despite his extensive timepiece knowledge - he's big into German brand A. Lange & Söhne - Paterson was always up against the clock when he found out on the morning of the game that he was going to be making his Scotland debut against France in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.

Kyle Steyn's wife was so close to going into labour that Paterson had been in Cardiff in round one as a travelling reserve. He reprised the role for the game at Murrayfield and was called upon as the Glasgow captain dashed off to meet his newborn.

The Scottish coaches knew the night before but saved the news that Paterson was to start at 15 against les Bleus until the former age-grade star was having his breakfast, completely unaware his life was about to change.

"I don't know if it was tactical from Gregor (Townsend) but it was all very last minute," Paterson tells RW. "It was five minutes of panic and then I was buzzing." Paterson dropped a message into his Fettes College friends' group chat before getting emotional on the phone to his dad, who was tasked with distributing the news as he sorted tickets for all his friends and family who were scrambling to make it to the capital in time.