While Edinburgh Rugby continue to sign a sizeable quota of foreign players to ensure adequate cover when Scottish representative duties arise – 15 at the last count, including an Argentinian trialist – at least one up-and-comer exemplifies the importance of also developing strong community roots.

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, a 20-year-old scrum half, was first attracted to rugby by a man known throughout the Capital grassroots scene as a pied piper for prospective props, scrum halfs, full backs etc.

Making it clear his first start for Edinburgh against Scarlets at Murrayfield last Friday might not have happened but for the diligent groundwork of Bill Smith, a former winner of the Spirit of Scottish Rugby award and Forrester club development officer, Hidalgo-Clyne said: “Hopefully I am helping to show you can come from any club and do well. You don’t have to have everything laid on for you.”

It was while at Corstorphine Primary School, which subsequent England world cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward attended for a spell in the 1960s when his father was on RAF duty at Turnhouse, that Hidalgo-Clyne was bitten by the rugby bug.

“Bill Smith came along to do an introductory session and a few of us went to a field across the road for after-school training,” he explained. “My brother, Jose, who is two years older than me, also got involved and that provided further encouragement to get along to the Forrester club. I played at Forrester (currently in East Division Two) from about primary three until second year high school when I was awarded a scholarship by Merchiston Castle.

“Rugby was not natural to me, as I was born in Granada, Spain, where I lived until the age of three. So, it was good to get an opportunity to try the game and I loved it straightaway.

“Fortunately, Bill Smith not only pushed me as a player, but saw something in me ability-wise and coached me.

“I’ve been back at Forrester a couple of times and I plan to pop into the club again soon. I think it’s important that players go back to their roots and, as well as Forrester, I was helped on my journey to the Edinburgh team by the coaches at Merchiston. Just as I was approaching first team level, Mark Appleson moved to Edinburgh Academy, but his successor, James Boyd, was a big help, too, as was director of sport, Richard Charman.

“They all played a part in getting me into the Scotland age-group and sevens set-up.”

Another break for Hidalgo-Clyne, who made a debut in the opening RaboDirect PRO12 fixture of the season in the daunting surroundings of Musgrave Park, Munster, and followed up with immediate appearances from off the bench against Dragons and Ospreys, was a Macphail Scholarship to New Zealand last summer.

Bill's work is continued through Forrester React 2 Rugby who provide rugby sessions in 5 High Schools and 16 Primary Schools. This is the main source of recruitment to Forrester Rugby Club.

Well done Bill for all your hard work