BORDERER Patrick Harrison has described the feeling of winning his first Scotland cap as "special".

The 22-year-old played the second half of Gregor Townsend's squad's penultimate match of their Americas Tour against Chile.

And the former Peebles High School pupil helped guide the Scots to a 52-11 victory in Santiago.

Speaking to Scottish Rugby on the pitch after Saturday's game, Harrison said: "It's a pretty special feeling, to be fair. It's been a good couple of weeks getting ready for it and all the boys made it pretty easy-going going into today, which made it easier.

"I wasn't really expecting it [to come on] that early so when Gregor told me at half time to go warm up it was a pretty exciting feeling.

"I wasn't actually too nervous when I got out onto the pitch. It was an exciting game to be involved in."

The Edinburgh Rugby hooker added: "It was a tough game, to be fair. They really fronted up and our backs did well to exploit the space. It was a good result.

"It's been great coming to places like this I maybe wouldn't have come to without rugby, so it's been a really cool experience."

Harrison, of West Linton, was not picked in the matchday squad for tour games against Canada and USA earlier this month.

But his performances in training earned the praise of head coach Townsend, a fellow Borderer, who described him as a "standout" performer.

Harrison looks set to be involved again on Saturday (July 27) as the Scots wrap up their tour with a game against Uruguay.

He was one of 10 uncapped members of the original 37-man squad named by Townsend.

Fellow Borderer Glen Young was forced to withdraw midway through the tour after picking up a pectoral injury.