The Scottish World Cup bolter who's shocked by his own rapid rise
Grant Stewart is as shocked as anyone to find himself in the running for Scotland’s World Cup squad.
But now that opportunity has been handed to him, the Glasgow Warriors hooker is determined to make the most of it and snatch a seat on the flight to Japan.
As recently as 2015, the 24-year-old was playing second string club rugby with Glasgow Hawks.
An injury crisis at Scotstoun provided the former youth international the chance to sign professionally with Warriors at the end of last year.
His displays for Dave Rennie’s side – including a try-scoring substitute display in the Guinness PRO14 final – have propelled him into Gregor Townsend’s thinking for this year’s tournament in the Far East.
Given he has made just 24 appearances in the pro ranks – and only eight starts – he understands he will likely be the odd one out when the Scotland coach is forced to cut the number of hookers currently among his 44-man training squad from four to three.
The trio in front of him includes vice-captain Stuart McInally plus Scotstoun colleagues Fraser Brown and George Turner.
Yet the latter pair’s recent run of injuries mean Stewart’s impossible dream has now entered the realm of the conceivable.
“If you’d told me two years ago that I’d be in the World Cup mix then I’d have said ‘no chance’, as there’s a lot of talented boys playing for Scotland,” he said.
“When I was playing for Hawks there was a wee bit of an injury crisis at Glasgow and I got called in to be 24th man.
“I got noticed then and got the academy deal, then I got a chance at Glasgow and just tried to push on.
“I just want to push on as far as I can. I want to play and if I train well I don’t see why not. If I do my role well and work hard to improve then who knows what could happen.”
Stewart will have to dislodge a squad regular if he is to force his way into Townsend’s 31-man traveling party.
But the competition for places has not yet disrupted the harmony among the contenders for the number two jersey at their St Andrews training camp as they prepare for the opening warm-up clash with France in Nice on August 17.
Stewart said: “Stuart McInally has been really good to me, he’s kept me calm on the throwing, while Fraz and George have been good as well.
“I just need to make sure I know my role as much as I can.
“This has been a huge jump in standards, it’s just so much faster. If you don’t do something right then there’s always a consequence, and that’s the biggest difference about the level I’d played at previously.
“It’s about being fit enough, about communicating in defence and attack, and about asking questions to make sure everything’s all good.
“Training’s starting to get a wee bit more intense. As selection gets closer the boys are starting to go a bit harder.
“This will help a lot because I’ll get a bit more experience here, and if I don’t make the World Cup squad I’ll take that back to Glasgow and try and put it out there.”
– PA
Jim explores the stunning cities of Cape Town and Porth Elizabeth in South Africa for the latest episode of Rugby Explorer.
Comments on RugbyPass
Yes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to comments