Given his talent, his track record and even his double metre height, it would have been easy for Nathan Hines to look down on much of the rugby world. But the Scottish giant is not just a great player. He is a monument of Scottish rugby. From the URC to the Top 14, from Australia to Scotland, 20 years after his debut on the field, the memories are bound to be numerous. To coincide with the release of our 'International' collection, Nathan agreed to share some of those memories with LegendaryPlays. We take a look back at the career of this Wagga-Wagga colossus.

What's your fondest memory of your career ?

There are quite a few. In fact, I played for 20 years, but if I have to pick just one... (silence). My first cap, winning the Top 14 with Perpignan, my last match with Scotland, the last match of my career... I think it's important to remember all those moments. There are so many times when you lose games and you're not in good form, and you have to keep those good memories to motivate yourself. But I'll tell you the best memory I have in my head: I was at Murrayfield this weekend. And it always reminds me of the day I was with the Scottish team. I saw a father and his son watching our bus go by. The little boy waved at us. And I did the same thing. And I know that little boy will remember that for the rest of his life. That's what I remember about my career.

And the worst moment on the pitch ? 

There are several too (laughs) ! My first red card with Scotland, the time I broke my cruciates against Biarritz and I thought I wasn't going to play again and that I wouldn't have the chance to continue my career... And even if there are a lot of matches where we didn't play well, we lost, but there aren't many bad memories. Even when we lost to France for the Grand Slam or Ireland for the Triple Crown. Because that's sport.

Is there one try that you remember more than the others ? 

In fact ... (he bursts out laughing!) The day I got my red card with Scotland, I'd scored a try before that. I'd done it all in one match. That was in 2000, and fortunately there was no video like there is today. What's more, I only got a week's suspension. But it was a scandal (laughs)! In truth, the try I remember most was the try against Northampton in the European Cup final in 2011. It was my only try for Leinster, and what's more it was a crazy match. We were behind at half-time. Then we came back with Jonny Sexton and then me. It was incredible.

Who's the best player you've ever played with ? 

The best player... Olalala. I've played with so many good players. And it actually makes me blush when I think that I've played with Brian O'Driscoll, Dan Carter or that I've played with the Lions. There are times when I wonder why I played in the same team as them. He was an extraordinary player. He was brave. I remember: during the Lions Tour in 2009, he smashed his shoulder in the tackle taking on Danie Rossouw. When I was at Leinster, he was the first one to say yes to little games. Even if he was the best player in the world, he'd still come and play passes before training, setting an example. An example of humility. And he wanted to beat everyone.

Was there any player you feared ? 

Yes... all the wingers and all the fast guys (laughs)! Shawn Williams, Ngwenya, all those guys. In fact, guys like Danie Rossouw. Everyone was talking about Matfield and Botha, but Rossouw was strong. Very strong. In France, there was Pascal Papé, Jamie Cudmore, Gorgodze... but I'd say that you knew Botha and Rossouw were going to be difficult. 

And what is... 

Wait a minute! In 2005, when I arrived in Perpignan, there was David Couzinet! David gave me a real hard time. He punched me in the face. He broke my nose and everything. It was at home, I hadn't done anything, it was in front of the referee and he got a yellow card. Welcome to the Top 14. Back then it was a bit like the wild west.

What's the most beautiful stadium you've ever played in? 

I'm going to say two, because they're very different. The Stade Aimé-Giral and the Michelin. Both are very beautiful, but at Perpignan, even more so at that time, they were savages (laughs)! There was a lot of noise, a lot of passion for the team. A really passionate public, that's the word. And then I think I'd just come from Edinburgh, where we played in front of 3,000 people at Murrayfield. And there you had 12, 13,000 people singing... It was impressive. It really blew me away. In Clermont-Ferrand, it was a bit the same thing, but it wasn't the same atmosphere. It was great, we didn't lose a game at home, except the last one against Castres. That creates a special bond between the fans and the players.