Scotland's latest 50-cap man Darcy Graham reveals dream, nightmares and photo that inspired him

Not content with reaching a half-century, the winger admits making it to 100 would be “so special” and he also wants to end his career as Scotland’s leading try-scorer.

Graham, 28, reckons “half of Hawick” is coming up to Murrayfield for the match with Argentina and the connection to his hometown remains strong.

It was another international player from Hawick, his uncle Scott MacLeod, who inspired him to follow his dream. The forward won 24 caps and played for Scotland at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, blazing a trail for his young nephew.

The picture in his uncle’s house

“Growing up my whole life, when I first picked up a rugby ball, all I ever wanted to do was play for Scotland,” said Graham. “I looked up to my uncle and he played for Scotland. I can always remember a photo of him in his house against the All Blacks, facing the haka. And I was like, ‘That's pretty cool’. It was so special, he had that up in his house, and I always just wanted to recreate that. So that was pretty special last Saturday.”

Scotland fought back from 17-0 down to draw level against New Zealand but couldn’t capitalise fully on a period on a dominant second-half performance and the tourists won 25-17 at Murrayfield last weekend. Graham was denied in the corner by a last-gasp tackle from Cam Roigard, who dislodged the ball from the winger’s grasp as he dived for the line.

“I think I'm going to have nightmares about that try - or disallowed try - for the rest of my life,” reflected Graham. “It's one of those that's going to haunt me for a while. But it’s next job now, it's Argentina.

“They're a bloody good team. Coming here, they’ve beaten the Lions, Australia, the All Blacks, and came within two points against South Africa. They've got a lot of rugby under their belt so we're going to have to go up another level from the All Blacks. It’s going to be tough.”

Fascinating duel with ‘Duhi’

While he wasn’t able to add to his try haul last week, Graham does have one against the All Blacks on his CV and his lists the score from 2022 as one of his top three moments in a Scotland jersey, the others being his debut against Wales in November 2018 and the never-to-be-forgotten comeback against England at Twickenham in 2019 when the visitors trailed 31-0 but fought back to draw 38-all.

“It was an incredible day,” said Graham. “Although it was a draw, it almost felt like a Scottish win.”

Graham got two of Scotland’s tries that day and hasn’t stopped scoring since. He now has 34 for his country and is tied with Edinburgh team-mate Duhan van der Merwe as the national side’s leading try-scorer of all time. It’s a fascinating duel between the two wingers which will continue against the Pumas on Sunday when Graham starts the match and van der Merwe is on the bench.

“I'd love to finish up being top-try scorer, and that's definitely a goal of mine, when I do finally hang up the boots,” said Graham “It's very special that me and Duhi are both in the race just now, and it's quite cool to share that journey with him, because we've been through everything together.”

Gregor Townsend noted this week that Graham’s achievement in reaching the half-century is all the more impressive given the number of serious injuries he has endured. Knee, hip and groin issues have all sidelined him for lengthy spells, and his late call-up to the Lions squad was cut short in the summer when he injured his ankle on his debut.

‘What am I doing?’

The effervescent Graham is cheerily defiant and has no intention of changing his game in the name of self-preservation.

“I think I just wear my heart on the sleeve, just go out there, I put my body on the line and chuck myself about,” he smiled. “I don't shy away from anything. You'll never change me from that. There were times in games I went in and was like, right, ‘let's try and get through this’, and ten minutes in I'm in the bottom of the rucks, flying into contacts, and I'm just like, ‘what am I doing?’

“But no, when I play for Scotland, it's such a special thing. I want to go out there and just put everything I have on that pitch and leave that jersey in a better spot.”

While it is with Scotland that he has made his name, Graham has never forgotten his roots and always recognises the part Hawick - both town and rugby club - has played in his development. It is why Sunday will be such a special day for all those Teries coming to celebrate the achievements of their favourite son.

“As a young boy, you dream of playing for your country,” he said. “To do it one time is a dream come true, but to do it 50 times is very special, and I've got half of Hawick coming up, so it's going to be an awesome atmosphere and a special day.

“Playing for Hawick feels still like yesterday, and I'd love to go back and play for them, and play with my pals again.

“I actually said that to my missus yesterday. I could play for another, what, maybe six years hopefully, so I'm going to have to rack them up pretty quickly [to get to 100] and that would be so special.

“But to get 50 is an unbelievable achievement and I cherish every cap I've had in every game. And it goes so fast. It's crazy that I'm up to 50 already and really in another four years' time it could all be over. So, it’s scary how fast time moves and I think now it's just really about enjoying every moment, enjoying every cap, every game, especially at Murrayfield - there's no better place to play.”