GUINNESS PRO12 Star: Grant Gilchrist

Ever since an Edinburgh debut in their September 2011 victory over Cardiff Blues - shortly after his 21^st birthday - Gilchrist has been on a swift upward trajectory.

He went on to make 19 PRO12 appearances that season, 16 the next and 18 last time around, consistently at the core of everything Edinburgh do.

A first senior international cap arrived in the 2013 Six Nations at the Stade de France, before featuring for Scotland that autumn and four times under Vern Cotter this summer.

And he clearly wasted no time impressing the new man in charge, installed as captain at the age of just 24 to lead Scotland this month.

"I think leaders are born," said Cotter following the announcement. "He is a born leader."

A broken arm just days later cruelly ensured he would not be able to fulfil that role, with former BT Murrayfield teammate Greig Laidlaw taking up the mantle.

But when Gilchrist shakes off this setback and returns to GUINNESS PRO12 action, both Edinburgh and Scotland are surely set to reap the rewards.

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