Low's high hopes of Argentina place

MORAY Low may tour Argentina with Scotland in June and if he does it will owe something to the influence of the South Seas and North America.

Yesterday, he was revealed alongside fellow props Kevin Tkachuk and Justin Va'a as Glasgow's most recent re-signings and while it may not hold the headline-grabbing excitement of a star name being flown in, the announcement that Low will be at Firhill at least until 2010 will be warmly welcomed in the west.

Naturally strong, quick and with good skills, Low is rated as one of the most talented tighthead props to have come through the Scottish system in the past decade and, in a problem position, he is one of the last players coaches want to see leave the country. In his first season as a full-time professional, Low has taken on the jersey vacated by Euan Murray, who left for Northampton last summer, and not only coped with the intense, brutal world inhabited by the best of European front rows, but played in every single match, and started the majority.

He pays tribute to the efforts of Va'a, the Samoan Test prop, and former Canada skipper Tkachuk, as well as the less-heralded Michael Collins, an experienced Kiwi prop signed from London Irish last summer, as having helped him develop into a player now pushing for the Argentina tour.

Low was preparing yesterday for Glasgow's final match of the season, hoping to seize what would be an incredible Irish double on Saturday by beating Munster a week after winning at Ravenhill. He is also still waiting to hear whether he was in the full Scotland squad to tour Argentina or the A squad for the Churchill Cup in North America. He makes no bones about what he is praying for.

"I set myself high goals at the start of the season – to get into the Scotland squad during the Six Nations and to go to Argentina," he said.

"It would be fantastic to get to the Churchill Cup (with Scotland A], and I'd really look forward to that if that's where I was selected, but like any player you want to play at the very top and so I want to be part of the Argentina Test matches."

He is still only 23, which could almost be equated with a teenager in terms of prop development, who tend to find their scrummaging feet later in life, and retains some raw edges. But his education has been far from typical – from Findhorn to Glasgow, scrum-half to prop, the journey has stopped at Aboyne, Moray, Highland, the Wellington Redbacks in Australia and Aberdeen Grammar School FPs. Low has come a long way in the past decade.

The Scotland coaches will announce their tour squad today and Low is at the heart of how they are viewing this tour and its selection. With the new World Cup seeding plans suggesting that Scotland will need to win at least one Test match in South America, and his recent lack of victories, coach Frank Hadden may not be looking at future potential.

Euan Murray is the coaches' first choice, and Gavin Kerr, Craig Smith and Bruce Douglas offer the experienced options, though Kerr and Smith have both had injury concerns lately. Low might be considered one for the future, but, in fact, he is also a form choice.

Low has been improving throughout the season with Glasgow, and cites one of his best displays, up against powerful Biarritz scrummagers, in the Heineken Cup matches as his highlight of the season. He earned a call-up to the national squad during the Six Nations, without being used, so whether the coaches are viewing the tour as a great platform to expose some fringe contenders or simply to go there and win it, Low would seem to have one foot on the flight to Buenos Aires.

"What I've wanted to happen this season so far has happened," he added.

"I've learned a lot, from training, from team-mates and the coaches, and from the games I've played in the Magners League and Heineken Cup. The Biarritz game at home, which we won, was the best because we really stood up to their pack and had a great crowd behind us. But just playing has been great.

"I was an apprentice last year and got a first start against Leinster, which was good, but this season I feel I've stepped up and enjoyed the competition in the squad, and playing in every game has made a huge difference to my game.

"I've still got a lot to learn and lot of developing to do but I'm sure when we get from the tour, whatever one it is, my fitness work will step up another grade. Playing in tour matches, though, is bound to help."