Will Hurd recalls ‘indescribable’ family reunion after first Scotland cap

Will Hurd’s mother, Sharon, whose family are from Stirling, flew out at short notice to watch her son win his first Scotland cap in Canada two weeks ago.

Hurd had been selected for the Six Nations squad earlier this year but a foot injury sustained on duty with Leicester Tigers robbed him of an opportunity to contribute to the championship effort.

Six months on, the 25-year-old made his bow off the bench in Scotland’s 73-12 Ottawa victory and was able to share the joy with his family.

Both his parents and his sister made the trip across the Atlantic, as did Hurd’s girlfriend and her mother.

“It was immense,” the prop, born and raised in the English Midlands, said of the post-match scenes. “I get emotional thinking about it now.

“My mum is the Scottish connection. She couldn’t express her emotions. She’s always pushed me for the Scotland stuff and I’ve loved it. It’s been a dream of mine.

“When that became reality, seeing her after the game, I got extremely emotional. Seeing her eyes and how proud she was made it all worth it. That post-match eye-to-eye with her was indescribable.

“She wasn’t expecting to make it to the game. She came out Thursday, saw the game Saturday and flew out the next day. She messaged me before the game saying ‘I wouldn’t miss this for the world’.

“She was ecstatic. She doesn’t really understand rugby so I could play terribly and she’d still be ever so proud. Seeing her weeping with tears after the game was immense in every way possible.”