Age no barrier for Kalman

Ed Kalman

Published: 1:37pm, 10th February 2012
Updated: 6:17am, 11th February 2012

Prop Ed Kalman completes a triumvirate of three uncapped Glasgow Warriors on the Scotland replacements' bench for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales - but his route towards a first Test cap is more circuitous than that of Duncan Weir and Stuart Hogg.

Weir is 20 and Hogg 19, while tighthead Kalman is 29 as he prepares for a first Scotland international as a reward for his strong performances for Glasgow this term and in Scotland A's 35-0 win over England Saxons last Friday.

"It shows how old I am - Hoggy's 10 years younger than me," said Kalman, who has 12 A caps and is a strong scrummager. "It's great for those guys. They're at the start of probably a long international career, whereas this is a long road I've taken to get here. It's very different routes we've taken, but I'm very happy to be here."

Kalman's chance has arrived in part due to the absence of Euan Murray, who does not play on Sundays for religious reasons, and the promotion of Geoff Cross to the starting XV.

"There are no guarantees that I'll get on so I'm trying to keep a level head and, if the opportunity comes, take it," he said.

Kalman, who is a product of the Whitecraigs club south of Glasgow, studied physics at Durham University and was part of the Newcastle Falcons development squad, while also playing one game on loan for Leeds.

He then read for an MPhil in technology policy at Cambridge University, playing in the 2005 Varsity match. His Scottish professional career began with the now defunct Border Reivers, before he moved to Glasgow in 2007.

He has also had a battle to get into the Warriors side this season, with Scotland international Moray Low and Yorkshireman Michael Cusack strong competition for the tighthead berth.

Kalman said: "Professional rugby can be a rollercoaster. You just have to accept some of the highs and lows, try to keep as level a head as you can, keep working hard, whether it goes for you or doesn't.

"If you keep faith in yourself and keep moving forward, hopefully you get what you deserve eventually."