That Fiji cameo off the bench preceded a first Scotland start, against world champions South Africa a week later, and Tom even notched international points with a conversion against Portugal – his third cap, a week later.

Having had two outings in this season’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, he is primed for a first taste of Calcutta Cup action this coming Saturday.

It has been a meteoric rise for the Aucklander, whose rugby journey saw him end up playing, and starring for, Ayrshire Bulls in the former Super Series.

The Glasgow Warriors playmaker, whose versatility has seen him play professionally at stand-off, centre and full-back, described what it meant to pull on the famous dark blue jersey and how much he appreciates and understands the history that lies before him.

“I think we’d just got back from South Africa with Glasgow in the URC and we were straight into camp, so pretty crazy with not much time to really think about anything,’ said Tom on his call-up last October. “It was a surreal week, mainly being with so many guys I play and work with every day, to share that with them.

“Experiencing everything for the first time was unreal, walking into the stadium with thousands of people already there, singing the anthem – it gives me goosebumps when I think back to it.

“My dad came over, he’d arrived the day before and he’d not been over since I’d been here so there was a lot going on. It was a great day and we got the win, and I got to share that with a lot of people who I really get along with and have spent a lot of time with. It’s something I’ll cherish for a long time.

Pictured: Tom leading the Scotland squad in for The Famous Grouse Nations Series match against Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, November 2024

“Each level you go up, it’s a bigger occasion. I wouldn’t say my dad would travel all the way to maybe a Super Series game, but for something like an international debut, it was really special for those close to you and it’s a big reason why people play the sport, to share it with the people you love.

“I was happy that I’d got a run-out against Fiji because I then knew what to expect with the arrival in the bus, the warm-up, singing the anthem, singing a song after the game – I tried to sing ‘Believe’ by Cher, but I stuffed up the words. Then I changed to a Kiwi song, it was one my parents would listen to at parties at home, so I sung it and no-one here had ever heard of it before. That was a bit of a dud so at least that was all out of the way in the first week!

On being a New Zealand native, who has earned Scotland recognition on residency grounds, Tom is acutely aware of what it means to run out in dark blue, as he explained: “I only found out I was in the squad about a week before, so it was all very new to me. You sort of look at the history of the team, the jersey and all the people who have come before you, and you’re representing a whole nation. You’ve been selected to go into battle and you take on that responsibility.

“You’re representing Scotland and part of that duty is to respect it and make sure you know where it’s come from.”

So how did a boy from Auckland end up playing in Ayr? “I just finished up university and I was playing club rugby in Hamilton, New Zealand, and decided ‘why not go and play overseas for a few months?’, bit of travel and life experience.

“I just fell in love with it, the culture, the travel, seeing something new as young people do. It was very eye-opening and gives you a lot of perspective. Covid happened so I went home – I’d only been over for a handful of months – and I thought I hadn’t seen enough yet.

Pictured: Tom celebrating with Stafford McDowell after the latter’s try against Portugal in The Famous Grouse Nations Series, November 2024

“So I came back over for a little bit to see how it went and I’ve been here ever since. Like in most people’s careers there are tough times to go through, trying to build your way up, but I’ve always been grateful for the opportunities I’ve got in Scotland, being able to train as a rugby player full-time which wasn’t really achievable in New Zealand at the time.”

What thoughts of the Six Nations, then? “It’s only been in the last five years, since I moved over, I’ve been fortunate enough to go to a lot of the Six Nations games, watch them with mates and really get involved,’ Tom added. A lot of my close mates are Scottish, but there are a couple English, some support Wales, and it’s that rivalry that’s so much stronger.

“I guess being neighbouring countries and the more I’ve learned about the significance of it, the intensity rises even more and you can sense it in the group. It’s a huge opportunity for Scotland to put its stamp on world rugby and it’s a great tournament, and I’m really excited to be a part of it.”