Strachan departure made Dingwall even more grateful for his Saints opportunity

Fraser Dingwall and Fraser Strachan were fixtures in the Wanderers side and both were highly rated at Franklin's Gardens.

Both were able to win caps at Under-20 level with Dingwall skippering England and Strachan pulling the strings for Scotland.

But during this calendar year, their fortunes became polar opposites.

Dingwall's upward curve continued as he hit the heights with his club, notably notching a derby-day try against Leicester Tigers back in November.

He was eventually able to make his way into England's Six Nations squad, showing just how highly he is thought of right now.

But for Strachan, the story at Saints is now over, with the 21-year-old moving to Championship club Ealing Trailfinders after making just four first-team appearances.

Dingwall was sad to see his long-time team-mate and fellow Saints Academy graduate depart.

But if anything, it has made him even more grateful for the opportunities he has been afforded in Saints colours.

And you feel it has made him even more determined to succeed in the black, green and gold.

"It's a classic example of good players just potentially not having the right timing," said Dingwall, who has racked up nine tries in 30 appearances at Saints at the age of just 21.

"Rugby's a cruel game where you can come in and get a break because of someone's injury and then you perform well and set yourself up to play in several games.

"Strachs is a very good player and someone who has just missed out here.

"He maybe hasn't had the opportunity simply because of other people playing and that's just the way sport goes.

"I'm excited to see how he goes at Ealing and I think he'll enjoy it there."

Dingwall, who started against Wasps last weekend, is now trying to guide Saints to glory in the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup in the months to come.

And he has used his time spent in self-isolation well, looking back and learning from a whirlwind spell at Saints and with England.

"I always try to reflect on experiences," Dingwall said.

"It's quite hard in the moment because you're very much wrapped up in it and also you have to get yourself into an experience because otherwise it's quite surreal.

"You can become a rabbit in the headlights if you don't immerse yourself in it.

"But once I'm out of it, I do try to reflect and try to see what I've learned and pick up on areas that I can add to my game.

"I feel like all these experiences are helping me and I feel like I'm developing, which is the most important thing at the moment.

"I wouldn't say I'm at a level where I'd be able to play Test rugby and I don't think I justify it yet, but that's the main focus, getting to that level.

"At the moment, it starts with performing week in, week out for my club.

"We've got a massively strong squad and midfielder group and competing with them and learning from them shows me how I'm going to get to that level."

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