Scotland centre Stafford McDowall has credited Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith for his meteoric rise up the pecking order in the country.
McDowall feared for his playing future at the end of last season, as he struggled to feature for his club outfit under then-head coach Danny Wilson.
But the arrival of Smith helped catapult his career in the right direction and the 25-year-old now has a chance of playing at the Rugby World Cup.
Uncapped player
The uncapped centre was recently named in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland training squad that’s being put through its paces in the south of France.
He admits his career has been rejuvenated since he was handed more game time at the Warriors and now wants to kick on with his national outfit.
“It’s been exciting for me to get the chance to play more regularly at Glasgow,” said McDowall.
“It’s something I struggled with in the previous couple of years but, with Franco coming in, he obviously saw something in me and gave me more regular game time.
“It has allowed me to push on and make a few Scotland squads in a row which has developed my confidence and my game.
“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do 12 months ago. I didn’t know if I was going to continue with rugby at all at one point.
“To be sitting here now, I feel pretty lucky, and I am going to make the most of the opportunity.
“I managed to be able to stay at Glasgow, which is the club I want to be at, and things springboarded from there.
“It has almost given me a sense of freedom. Twelve months ago, I didn’t think I would be anywhere near this position, never mind in the squad and out here.
“It almost gives me that licence to play with more freedom and just get my head down and know if I give it my best shot I know I have done everything I can.”
McDowall will be hoping to impress Townsend at the camp as the coach must soon trim the squad from 41 players down to 33 for the global tournament.
Before those difficult decisions are made, the expanded Scotland squad is pushing hard to make an impression, with McDowall hailing the environment.
“It’s great to be out in Nice and at the hotel we are going to be at for the World Cup and get used to the training ground,” he said.
“I think getting used to the heat will pay massive dividends. Obviously, it’s been hot in Scotland but it’s a different type of heat here, it’s definitely gone up another notch.”
