Cummings ready for ‘surreal’ 50th cap

The 29-year-old is set to win his 50^th cap for his country after being selected in the starting XV for this weekend’s Nations Championship opener against Argentina, a fact to which he reacted with a smile as he sat down ahead of Saturday’s clash in Cordoba.

“It’s a pretty cool feeling,” said Cummings.

“Getting to represent your country at any point is a huge honour and an amazing achievement, and it’s something I’m always proud to be able to do.

“To have the privilege of pulling on a Scotland shirt for the 50^th time is a pretty surreal feeling.”

The Glasgow Warriors second-rower has become a fixture in the engine room for Gregor Townsend’s squad ever since making his Scotland debut back in August 2019, coming off the bench in a World Cup warm-up Test away to France.

“I was probably a bit more athletic back then!” laughed Cummings when asked to reflect on that night in Nice.

“The game has definitely changed since then, though, and you’ve got to adapt to those changes. It’s definitely a more physical game nowadays and I’d say I’ve had to adapt my style of play a little bit since then.

“I’ve loved every minute of it though – the experiences you gain through being able to represent your country are second to none.”

Cummings can not only draw on 49 caps worth of Scotland experience, but also that of a victorious British & Irish Lions tour this time last summer, his form for club and country having earned him selection for the famous men in red.

A year on, and the Kelvinside Academy product believes that the lessons learned during his time on tour will only serve him in good stead as he looks to play his part in driving his team forward.

“It was brilliant,” said Cummings.

“Being under a new coaching setup is quite a unique experience – I’ve been in the Scottish system for a long time, so to see how the other home nations do certain things is really interesting. You try and pick up on different aspects and try to integrate them into your own game, as well as learning from the quality players that are around you.

“It also reinforces the belief that we can compete with these guys, because we know that we have quality players in our environment as well.”

It’s been a momentous 12 months for Cummings off the field, too, having welcomed baby Charlie alongside wife Catherine late last year.

“It’s amazing,” said Cummings on life as a father.

“It definitely makes you think about things a little bit differently. There’s nothing better than getting home after a day’s training and seeing him smiling away at you. It’s a huge driving factor for me. Catherine’s been amazing, too – she does most of the work!

“I wouldn’t say becoming a father has changed the way I play, or the reasons why I play, but it definitely allows you to switch off better. You can’t take your baggage home from training with you – you’ve got to get home and help care for the wee man, spend time with him and play with him. I love doing that and it’s great to be able to switch off and just enjoying being with him.”

The stage is set for the latest milestone in a landmark year for Cummings this weekend, as Estadio Mario Kempes provides the backdrop for the second-rower as he brings up his half-century.

With a formidable opponent and a fever-pitch atmosphere lying in wait, it promises to be a memorable opening to the 2026 Nations Championship.

“It’s funny how Argentina still fly under the radar for a lot of people,” said Cummings.

“They’re such a high-quality outfit and they get a lot of big results at both home and away. They’re an incredible team and such a rugby-mad country, too. We went to San Andres Rugby Club in Buenos Aires just after we arrived in Argentina, and the scale of the event and scale of rugby in the country was clear to see.

“It’ll be a massive test for us, and running out in front of the crowd for my 50^th will be a moment I’ll never forget.”