David Hilton has opened his heart about the hurt he felt when he discovered he was not qualified to play for Scotland.
Hilton, who won his 41st cap for Scotland against Wales in Cardiff during the Six Nations four days before the bombshell news, must now sit on the sidelines for just over two years for his residency period after a ruling by the
International Rugby Board.
The Glasgow Caledonian prop insists he was as shocked as everyone else in the game when it was discovered that his grandfather, previously though to have been in Edinburgh, actually came from Bristol. But Hilton, 30, insists that his international career is far from over despite the ban.
"I have not been banned from international rugby so it is the best scenario for me," said Hilton. "I have got no qualifications now so I have to become qualified and that is exactly what I will be doing. I believe in my family history from day one but you don't get checking. If you're taught something from your family past, you don't say 'I don't believe that' and start checking up."
"I have always classed myself as Scottish and it is hard to discover you are not. I have always been proud of my 41 caps, any cap I have got I have treated like gold. They are very special to me. I am hoping to be in a position of being good enough to get more caps.It won't be through the lack of trying anyway."