Edinburgh's Dickinson relishing Scotland appearances

Along with fellow front-rower Ross Ford, Dickinson makes up the entire Edinburgh contingent in a Scotland team featuring ten Glasgow Warriors players, with a third of the side aged 23 or under.

While brothers Richie and Jonny Gray's selection together in the second row has dominated the headlines, for the first time in 41 matches Scotland's side will not feature a single Edinburgh back with Alan Solomons' squad decimated by early-season injuries.

But despite four shoulder operations and having seen a few more summers than his rivals in the Scotland set-up, 31-year-old Dickinson has his sights set on a third World Cup appearance next year.

"When I went through bad injury times I had some dark days. I was taught never to give up so I just rise and grind to keep going," he told the Edinburgh Evening News.

"I count myself very lucky to play rugby at professional level and I don't want to disrespect the game by not giving it everything I have.

"Goal setting is something I do although it is quite hard because there are always peaks and troughs.

"I just get up and try and improve every day knowing all the young guys coming in are miles ahead of where I was at the same age.

"There is a great feeling of belief, though, from our summer tour. There was that great win in Argentina and we learned a lot of lessons from when we lost in South Africa.

"Hopefully we can build on those."

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