The year and a half distraction of an elongated court case now behind him, Ryan Grant has a new start, a new baby daughter and new determination to get back to his British Lions form.
Grant admits that his involvement in the infamous “kebab shop” assault court case that ended with his Glasgow and Scotland team-mate Ryan Wilson being convicted was probably the major factor in his form dipping for club and country since he was called on to the last Lions Tour to Australia.
The case against Kirkcaldy-born Grant was found not proven by a Glasgow court earlier this year and he now feels free to re-focus his efforts on his career and his new family.
“It was a huge distraction,” said the 29-year-old, 22-times capped prop. “It was unpleasant for myself, my family and everyone involved. I am glad that is behind me now.
“Through it all I still had a job to do and you try your best to get on with it, but it’s not an easy thing to put to one side.
“The whole situation was very regrettable and I’m glad I have other things to focus on, not just the World Cup but because I became a dad a couple of months ago.”
Perspective has come from daughter Indie-Mae, born just two days before Scotland went out to the ten-day altitude camp at Fort Romeu in France. Grant was given just a day with his new daughter before that gruelling trip, but he’s revelling in fatherhood.
“It’s amazing. When you are young you talk about kids but now that I’ve got one I can’t believe that I didn’t have one sooner,” he said.
“She’s a little angel, she just makes everything seem like it’s worthwhile. The rugby, pushing that extra half yard, because it’s for her now, it’s worth it.”
Grant did have some limited involvement in the 6 Nations campaign but his new focus means getting back to where he was, first choice Scotland loose-head and part of the squad’s leadership group, starting with Saturday’s first Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Ireland in Dublin.
“I just want to get right back on track, playing my best rugby and get the number one jersey back,” he continued, although he knows the challenge against probably Scotland’s most consistent player last season, Alasdair Dickinson.
“I missed the November internationals through injury and then I missed the start of the Six Nations, but Dicko has been playing outstandingly well for Edinburgh and for Scotland.
“So I have a big mountain to climb in front of me but I just need to focus on me, get back to where I was, get back to playing my best and just see what happens after that.”