FARNHAM Rugby Club’s Burns Night comes on the eve of the 2017 Six Nations and allows the club to celebrate its very own Scottish rugby hero.

Last Saturday, relative upstarts Glasgow Warriors demolished Leicester, an icon of English club rugby, 43-0 to reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

No 8 Ryan Wilson was at the heart of that victory. The BBC reported: ‘Wilson and Swinson (man of the match) were ridiculously good as ball-carriers and leaders.’ Wilson scored his own try having earlier in the match delivered the ‘sumptuous’ pass to put winger Mark Bennett over in the corner.

Wilson, capped 23 times in the Scottish back row, played junior rugby at Farnham RFC from mini through to the first academy side in 2006/7. He cut his professional teeth with a season at Championship side Moseley before joining Glasgow Warriors in 2010.

Qualifying to represent Scotland through his grandfather from Motherwell, he was a try-scorer on his Scotland U19 debut in the win against Italy in 2008.

He made his Scotland A debut in the 32-13 win over Ireland Wolfhounds in January 2011, returning as a replacement in the emphatic 35-0 win over England Saxons the following year.

Wilson captained the side to victory over their English counterparts in 2013 (the first win for the side on English soil) and won his first full cap for Scotland in 2013 as a replacement in the Six Nations match against Wales. Since then, subject to fitness, he has been a regular starter for Scotland, most notably during their 2015 World Cup campaign.

Ryan played a vital part in Glasgow securing their first Guinness Pro12 title in 2015 and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club.

Ryan Wilson reminisced about his Farnham days when he spoke to Mark ‘Benjy’ Weeks, the Farnham RFC secretary.

“I learnt a lot at Farnham,” he said. “We didn’t have the best facilities down at the old club, but it’s not really about that. Never make excuses, I say, and always work hard.

“I never expected to be a professional rugby player and only started to think I could make something of it when I was about 16. I went for county trials when I was younger and never got in, but I didn’t let that stop me.

“I loved every game I played at Farnham and was surrounded by a great group of people.

“We worked well as a team when I was there and we were successful through the years because we were a close group of boys, coaches and parents that enjoyed the game and worked hard for each other on and off the pitch. Which is something I see at Glasgow Warriors and Scotland.

“I hope the boys go well and keep winning. Hopefully, see you at the club next time I’m back.”

* Leaders Farnham return to London 3SW action with a match at Teddington this Saturday. Last weekend’s scheduled London Senior Vase third-round fixture against Harlow was called off.