Scotland lock Jim Hamilton has set his targets for next season – with the ultimate goal a place on the Lions tour to South Africa.
The giant forward has signed on with Edinburgh for the 2008/09 season in a bid to secure more game time and thus secure his place in the engine room of Frank Hadden’s pack.
Hamilton started the Six Nations as a first choice but looked undercooked in terms of match preparation as a result of the competition for places at Premiership giants Leicester.
Now he hopes to play regularly for Edinburgh at the start of next season – then for Scotland in the Autumn Tests and in the 2009 Six Nations next Spring.
His ultimate ambition is to be part of former Scotland coach Ian McGeechan’s squad to face the world champion Springboks next summer.
He said: "Now the season has ended I’m already setting my own targets for this time next year. I want to be playing every week, I want to feel as if I’m part of a team that is doing well and I want to feel as if I’m developing.
"In terms of the Scotland team, I want to hold down a place and obviously at the end of next season there is a Lions Tour and that would be the ultimate goal.
"But as I’ve said before I just want to be playing regular rugby and to become a better player."
