Geoff Cross made his first appearance for Scotland in the Murrayfield match against Wales at the start of the 2009 RBS Six Nations Championship, but it was a short-lived debut as he was injured after less than half an hour.

Three months earlier he had his Scotland A debut in the 69-3 win against Georgia at Firhill, Glasgow in November 2008, and he went on to play in the wins over Russia and Uruguay in the IRB Nations Cup tournament in Bucharest in May 2009. He was on Scotland’s tour to Argentina five months earlier, though he was not in the match squad for either Test. A fourth game for Scotland A followed in the 38-7 win against Tonga in his home town, Galashiels, in November 2009, and he started the 25-0 victory over USA Eagles at the same Borders venue in November 2010. He was back at tight-head prop for the 32-13 win over Ireland Wolfhounds in January 2011 and the 11-3 success against Italy A the following month.

Geoff entered professional rugby when he joined The Borders in 2003 from Heriot’s after having played for Scotland under-21 that year, including being at tight-head in the team who beat England 33-22 at Newbury in the final match of the age group’s world championship. In December 2006 he moved from Border Reivers to Edinburgh Rugby on loan until the end of the season, and his debut for the capital city’s team followed later that month in the Magners League game against Glasgow Warriors at Hughenden. His Edinburgh contract was made more permanent in summer 2007.

Geoff, a Galashiels Academy former pupil, is now a qualified medical doctor.