Scotland back-row David Denton has revealed his ambition to not only solidify his place in the Scottish side, but also achieve a call-up for the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017.
The Edinburgh number-eight missed Scotland’s recent three-continent summer tour with concussion suffered at the tail end of the domestic season.
But after being in and out of the national team in the spring, 24-year-old Denton is hoping to nail down his place in the pack ahead of next year’s World Cup, and ultimately impress the Lions selectors.
“I was disappointed to miss the last Lions tour (to Australia in 2013),” he told a blog in his native Zimbabwe.
“I had less than 15 games under my belt in an injury-ravaged season. I had no chance to try make the squad and that’s what got to me.
“Unfortunately, that’s sport. Hopefully, after a World Cup appearance, I can aim to play for them in their next tour (to New Zealand in 2017.”
He continued: “Scotland are building for the World Cup and we are in a tough group. I feel we can get out [of the group] and our young team keeps developing.
“A realistic expectation would be making the quarter-finals or the semi-finals but we need to get out our group.
“I think every player deserves to have a good World Cup and that is my aim.”
