Scotland centre Marcus Di Rollo turned down the chance to play in France to keep his World Cup dream alive.
The 28-year-old has become a regular in the team under head coach Frank Hadden and is set to be a key figure in the summer tour of South Africa.
The Edinburgh Gunners centre formed an impressive partnership with Andrew Henderson at the heart of Scotland’s back division during the Scots’ successful Six Nations campaign.
Di Rollo also recently agreed a new two-year deal with Edinburgh where he admits to having one eye on the World Cup next year.
He said: "I’ve just agreed a new contract to stay here for another two years and I just want to build on this year and, hopefully, keep my Scotland place for as long as I can.
"I had an offer from France to go and play over there, which was quite tempting.
"But I have a lot of friends over here and want to devote the next couple of years up until the World Cup to playing for Edinburgh and, hopefully, the World Cup.
"I was pretty pleased with the way the Six Nations went. To play in all but one game was great.
"We also beat England and got an away win in Italy which meant we achieved the goals we set."
Hadden’s side take on the Barbarians at Murrayfield on May 31 before setting off for the two-Test series against the Springboks.
And, after emerging with credit from the Autumn Test defeat by New Zealand in November, Di Rollo is now looking forward to pitting his wits against another of the world’s top rugby nations.
He added: "We have three big games coming up, against the Barbarians and the summer tour to South Africa.
"They’ll test us as much as the Six Nations teams and it will be tough, but, hopefully, we can go there and and carry on where we left off in the Six Nations.
"In the Autumn Tests and the Six Nations, we played three of the top sides in the world in New Zealand, England and France – not to discount anyone else.
"And South Africa are also one of the top five teams so it will be a challenge."
