From tying the knot to comprehensively unpicking the Canadian defence as he scored two tries on his Test debut: it really was quite the eight days for Arron Reed.
The Sale Sharks and Scotland wing left camp to marry his long-term partner Fiona Lockhart in Clitheroe on Friday June 28, the day before the bulk of the squad flew out for the summer tour of the Americas.
Reed enjoyed a single day of wedded bliss before joining them in Ottawa, all thoughts of a honeymoon postponed until after he had consummated his union with a country that means so much to the families of both him and his new bride.
The 24-year-old was born and raised in northwest England, but his father was born in Edinburgh while his grandmother hails from Coldstream in the Scottish Borders. Every summer as a child, Reed would head there for a visit, while in more recent times these ventures have always been accompanied by the same question.
“Every time I go up to my gran’s she does ask me, ‘When are you going to play for Scotland?’,” Reed told The Times back in January after having been called up to Gregor Townsend’s Six Nations squad. “She was always very keen for me to play. My dad’s a proud Scotsman as well so he was obviously keen and it’s always been talked about.”
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Fiona’s father hails from the Isle of Skye, but settled in Lancashire after a stint in Dundee. According to Gus Warr, Reed’s big Sale pal and now fellow Scotland international, a major part of the father-of-the-bride speech was Mr Lockhart detailing his pride in his Caledonian roots and the fact that his new son-in-law would soon be honouring his own.
That wish was fulfilled — in grand style — in the Canadian capital last Saturday night as a new-look Scotland side thrashed their hosts 73-12. For his first score, Reed was the latest beneficiary of a piece of Harry Paterson magic — an audacious back-door offload — while for his second he raced onto a lovely flat pass from Jamie Dobie and streaked away from the cover. Having not been asked to get stripped during the Six Nations, Reed wasted no time in presenting his credentials at this new, elevated level.
“My debut was definitely everything I hoped it would be,” he told The Times. “It was genuinely an amazing experience. Getting two tries on your debut: you can’t really complain, can you. It was the best it could have gone.”
The Scotland back three were exceptional, Paterson overflowing with industry and ambition, Reed a constant menace with his footwork and straight-line speed and Dobie once more showing excellent awareness and appetite in an increasingly familiar wide berth. Ross McCann looked sharp off the bench while Kyle Steyn, who came on for Matt Currie in the centres, scored one try and was held up over the line on another occasion.
Reed was delighted with both the collective returns of this unit and the fortunes of that man Warr, who registered a debut brace of his own inside six minutes at the start of the second half.
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“For us back-three boys, our aim with Scotland is to get as much ball as we can,” Reed acknowledged. “Obviously we’re some of the most dangerous players in the team so if we can get on the ball as much as we can, create opportunities for each other or for ourselves, it’s one of the main things we go for.
“Gus doesn’t score many tries, so he’s chuffed to get a couple. He played really well, so I’m happy for him as well. It was nice to share that moment with him because I’ve grown up with him — it was really special. He was always [going to play for] Scotland, to be fair. He hasn’t needed me in his ear. He’s buzzing.”
Fiona flew out last Thursday and so was in the TD Place stands alongside Reed’s mother, father and sister. The happy couple have been managing to briefly catch up away from the team hotel — hardly the start to married life that either can have imagined, but one that both are apparently embracing.
“Fiona has been brilliant about the whole thing and couldn’t be happier for me,” Reed said. “The wedding was an unbelievable day, probably the best day of my life, until Saturday! It’s been a mental week. I’ve loved every single minute of this week, it’s been crazy like. Obviously I’ve enjoyed having a honeymoon with all the lads — that’s just great!
“To be fair, we didn’t plan anything. We said, ‘Let’s just wait until we find out what happens [with the tour] and then we’ll plan something for afterwards’. I’m sure I’ll get a bit of time off after this tour so I’ll be able to make her happy!
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“She’s out here now, which is ideal. She’s with my mum, dad and sister. They all flew out and have loved it as well.”
Scotland are now in Washington DC, preparing for Friday night’s game against the USA Eagles at Audi Field. Steyn, Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Rowe will all fancy being part of the major personnel changes which Townsend has already promised, but having savoured every last drop of his first taste, Reed is understandably desperate for more.
“I don’t know what the team is going to be, but obviously I want to be involved. The feeling of going out there and playing for Scotland, you can’t actually explain it in words. It’s just amazing, so obviously it would be amazing to do it again.”
USA v Scotland
Friday, 11.30pm
Audi Field, Washington DC
TV TNT Sports and BBC Scotland
