Before he came to Kelso with his parents and sister four months ago, French youngster Clemênt Femenias had never played rugby.
Now a keen player at his new school, where he is in S1, Clemênt was stunned recently to discover his name had been drawn out of a hat as a Kelso pupil to run out onto the Murrayfield pitch ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash between Scotland and England.
It was a Kelso school’s turn to provide one of the 15 mascots that accompany the Scotland players during the national anthems.
The 12-year-old, who plays his rugby on the wing, says he is excited about appearing in front of 67,000 rugby fans.
“Yes, I’m really looking forward to it,” said Clemênt, who moved to Kelso from Africa after father, Olivier, got a job in the Borders.
Mum Marie told us: “He’s really excited about it, especially being in front of all those people for the singing of Flower of Scotland.”
Local rugby youth development officer Jammy McFarlane says it will be a great experience.
“Clemênt’s a very keen player, bursting with enthusiasm and very coachable,” he said.