An injury to Ben Cairns ensured that he started the first two games, which were wins over Fiji and Australia.

His grandfather is Glasgow-born Ron Wylie, the former Aston Villa and Birmingham City footballer who also managed West Bromwich Albion, through which Alex qualifies for Scotland.

[1] He signed for Edinburgh on a six-month loan from Worcester for first half of the 2010–11 season in a view to increase his chances of World Cup selection while Worcester were playing in the RFU Championship following relegation the previous season.

Grove returned to Sixways at the start of 2011 and, after clocking up his 50th appearance for Warriors, helped the club achieve its promotion aspirations back to the Aviva Premiership.

Grove once again cemented his place in the Warriors team the following season and made the joint second-most appearances alongside Andy Goode with 26.