RYAN Wilson, who plays for Scotland tomorrow for just the second time after a six-month ban, has revealed he has had a meeting with the man he was convicted of assaulting. Wilson was found guilty of assaulting Ally Maclay, the Glasgow Hawks player, in January and although he was allowed to return to play for Glasgow before the end of the season, he was suspended from international duty up until the day before last week’s game against Italy.
After being named in the team to play France, 26-year-old Wilson said he regretted everything about the incident that led to his conviction and ban, but insisted he had become a more mature person while forced to sit on the sidelines. Meeting Maclay, he said, had been an important step on the way to his return.
“We had a chance for a sit-down [at David Lloyd Leisure in Anniesland, Glasgow] and that was that,” Wilson said. “It was a few weeks after. I’m not sure how it was arranged. I think it was the SRU and maybe Ally had been in touch.
“Big Al [Kellock, the former Glasgow captain] said to me one day: ‘Listen, sit down with him and clear the air and make sure there’s nothing there’. It put it behind us.”
Although the timing of the ban as well as some quiet reassurance from the coaching staff ensured that Wilson knew he was still in with a chance of representing Scotland at the World Cup, the back-row forward had to think long and hard about the consequences of what he did. “I regret the whole situation,” he continued. “I regret everything about it now. It’s in the past and I’m moving on with the rugby.
“I’ve probably done some growing up in that time. I feel a stronger person. I’ve been through quite a bit with it.
“I think my head is in the right place now. Looking back I regret the whole situation, but I feel like I’ve come out the other end a stronger person.
“I didn’t think so much that I’d blown it, but I put myself under a bit of pressure. I am quite a positive person and try and stay as positive as I can. What I can keep control of I will.
“I knew I would have a chance if I trained well, and got a few games at the end of the season for Glasgow and played well so did all right there. With Scotland I would be training and I would have a chance of putting my hand up there.
“Vern [Cotter, the head coach] said ‘Work hard towards the end of the season and you’ll get a shot, if you’re playing well enough, to get into the training squad. He also said to me during the training camp, ‘If you do well enough you’ll get your chance in the third match’, because that’s when I would be back playing. He gave me that shot
“It has been tough. Mentally it has been tough going through what happened. Other than that I am just trying to focus on the rugby and play as well as I can when I get my chance.
“I have great support from people round me, family and the people at Glasgow like Gregor [Townsend, the Warriors coach]. At times like this he was fantastic. He helped me through a lot. He’s a guy you can chat to when you want.
“You look back to old coaches. Sean Lineen - he was my mentor, so I could phone up Sean and go through stuff with him. People with Scotland, Vern, Humps [Jonathan Humphreys, the assistant coach], you have these guys you can come and speak to.”
Cotter has made it plain how valuable he thinks Wilson is, describing him yesterday as “our fastest forward” and praising his versatility. That latter quality could be required, given there is only one openside flanker, John Hardie, in the squad of 31 for the World Cup. But, unsurprisingly after such a long enforced absence, Wilson is ready to play wherever he is required.
“I’m open to playing all three back-row positions. I’m a player who is happy to play anywhere there. I played 7 in the [PRO12] final and thought I showed up quite well.
“We have John Hardie as the out-and-out 7 and he’s a good little player. He will get stuck in. I’m happy to chop and change.
“I feel that I’m 100 per cent,” he added. “I’ve got another game this weekend to add to that and to sharpen up. I felt pretty good last week and it was good to get that blow out after the long pre-season. I’m stronger and fitter than I’ve ever been, but it will be good to get another one under the belt before the World Cup just to sharpen up.”
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