Cameron Henderson has watched former Strathallan students rise up the rugby ladder to represent Scotland on the grandest of stages.

Now the Perthshire-based forward (17) is beginning to realise that he has an opportunity to plot his own path to the top of the sport.

Matt and Zander Fagerson, both who ply their trade with Glasgow Warriors, have become a force in Scottish rugby since leaving Strathallan.

Having this week earned selection to Scotland’s under-18 squad for a two-day training camp at BT Murrayfield, Cameron’s profile is rising.

He is buoyed by the success of Strath stars and said: “It gives you that incentive that you actually can do it and that it is a reality now.

“I will be leaving school to hopefully do something similar. It spurs you on and makes you think that it is possible.

“I have got a stage three contract on the table which has been signed and sent away. That will be me in the academy next season with the Scottish Rugby Union.

“You have a two-year transition and within those two years it is hoped you are playing senior rugby for either Edinburgh or Glasgow.

“Then you are hoping to sign a proper pro contract at the end of that.

“Professional rugby is something I’m working towards and is definitely a long-term goal of mine.”

Cameron will play an international against Wales with the under-18s in March before competing in a Six Nations tournament in April, with games lined up against England, France and Ireland.

“You could say it was expected because I would have been disappointed if I wasn’t included in the squad,” said Cameron, who moved back to Scotland from Hong Kong four years ago.

“I was involved last year and went down to Wales. But this year the focus is on being more of a senior part of the team compared to last year when I was thinking: ‘Wow, I’m actually doing this.’

“It’s going to be a challenge and it always is when you are with Scotland.

“I think we have a strong team so we will be looking to improve on last year when we won one game out of four. The target has got to be to win one or two more.

“There were two other guys with me from Strathallan last year – Murphy Walker and James McCaig – and we did the whole journey together.

“It’s cool to have some new faces in there now and for myself to be able to do it again.

“I’m in a privileged position where I have a fortunate birthday. I’m young for the year above but old for this year, so I’ve been able to do it twice.”

Joining Cameron in the under-18 squad are fellow Strath students Alex Marsh, Ollie Smith and Angus Vipond.

All of the above played their part in a historic Scottish Schools Cup win at Murrayfield, against local rivals Glenalmond, earlier this month.

Cameron said: “It was a special win, absolutely. When we finished there was a real sense that we had achieved something.

“There were loads of former Strathallan students at the game and you could tell they were proud of us.

“We went unbeaten for a season when I was in third form when I first arrived. Excitement started to build.

“Everyone always said that we would win the cup eventually and when we didn’t do it at under-16s, it gave us more determination.

“We had a few players come in for sixth form which really strengthened the team and probably pushed us over the edge to win the cup.”

Cameron added: “The set-up at Strathallan has developed across the past 10 years.

“The achievement of last Wednesday has not just come overnight and we have been working towards that for a long time.

“I have been here for four years and came as a tall, skinny guy who didn’t look like he was going anywhere with the rugby.

“I was actually toying between rugby and football before I came back but at Strathallan I decided to choose rugby and go down that one path.

“I have focused on that ever since which has paid dividends.”