If the next week or so goes the way of Scotland and Darcy Graham, by Sunday night the 22-year-old could be locked in as one of the hottest talents at the Rugby World Cup. As part of a new series we’re taking a look at the best young players hailing from the Guinness PRO14 and this week it is the turn of Graham, the sprightly Edinburgh Rugby youngster right in the meat of his breakthrough season. Everyone thought Gregor Townsend’s wings were pencilled in with the experienced Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour, that is until Graham’s accomplished man-of-the-match performance against Georgia. The beach blonde bombshell may just have nudged his nose ahead in the selection battle for the showdown with Ireland on Sunday, a meteoric rise for a man who only made his Edinburgh debut in December 2017. Back then Edinburgh were looking to bounce back from a difficult domestic season under the leadership of new head coach Richard Cockerill. One of the most exciting intakes from their academy that year was Graham, the winger or full-back who had impressed for Scotland U20s. As a flying back-three player from Hawick, Graham has drawn inevitable comparisons with Stuart Hogg, a two-time British & Irish Lion and two-time Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship. According to the Scotsman, there are some at Hawick who claim that Graham was already further along the development path than Hogg at the same age; Scotland and Edinburgh fans will hope that pedigree continues to develop. Like Hogg, there is no doubt Graham has the pace and dazzling footwork to shine at the top level, and his versatility in the back three is an obvious plus. He first came to the attention of many with a wonder try against Australia at the World Rugby U20s Championship in 2016, and from there continued to be prolific at that level, form he soon replicated on the Sevens circuit. When he initially signed for Edinburgh’s senior side, attack coach Duncan Hodge did not hold back in his assessment of Graham’s potential: “Darcy is one of the most exciting prospects in Scottish rugby. “He’s an extremely talented rugby player and a natural athlete. With the commitment and competitive drive he possesses, we’re sure he’ll thrive in a fully-professional environment.” And thrive he did, appearing three times in the Guinness PRO14 in 2017-18 before cementing his place last season with five tries, 11 appearances and a brigade of sprawling defenders catapulting him to the national team. He made his debut for Townsend’s side off the bench in Cardiff in November 2018, before shooting to international fame with a double in that unforgettable comeback at Twickenham in this year’s Guinness Six Nations. Following back-to-back tries against the Georgians Graham has five in five starts for his country, a strike rate that could fire him to glory at his first World Cup.
