Josh Kerr says carrying the match ball onto the Murrayfield pitch before Scotland’s meeting with New Zealand will be a genuine “bucket-list moment”.
The Scottish athletics star will take part in the pre-match ceremony ahead of kick-off, with the home supporters expected to give him a standing ovation following an extraordinary year.
The 29-year-old set a new world record for the mile in July before adding Commonwealth Games gold over the same distance in Glasgow.
Scotland, meanwhile, will be attempting to make their own history by defeating the All Blacks for the first time. Kerr hopes the team can match his achievement by reaching a new standard in what promises to be a thrilling Nations Championship contest.
“These are the fun opportunities that come along,” said Kerr, whose brother Jake made one appearance for Scotland in 2019.
“For the past five or six years, I’ve said no to quite a few extra commitments away from athletics. But when something like this comes up, there’s no debate. You have to take it. It’s a goosebumps, bucket-list moment.
Athletics star Josh Kerr (left) with Scotland skipper Sione Tuipulotu at Murrayfield
“To be given the chance to do something that so few people have done is really special.
“Watching Scotland play at home is one of my core memories, but it has been far too long since I was last inside the stadium for a home match. I’m incredibly excited, and I think the atmosphere will be electric.
“It feels even more significant because the opposition is New Zealand. This Scotland side are chasing something that no one has ever achieved in a Scotland shirt.
“That was the challenge I set myself this year. If I can pass on any small lessons from my own experience, then I’d be delighted.
“The key is not to be distracted by people who have never achieved what you are trying to do. Keep your circle tight — your coaches, family, team-mates and the people who genuinely believe in you.
“There is a real sense of belief around this Scotland team. They have that feeling of, ‘Why not now?’ They showed that energy during the Six Nations.
“It did not all go their way, of course, but they competed at an extremely high level. Now they will be looking to carry that momentum into this match.
“The outside world will offer plenty of opinions, but none of those people have to walk out in front of a packed Murrayfield and perform.
“This will come down to staying present, giving everything in each moment and making smart decisions when the game becomes chaotic. It is a huge opportunity, and I hope it becomes an unforgettable occasion for them.
“When you are attempting something nobody has done before, you cannot rely on advice from people who have never done it either.”
Kerr is currently maintaining his fitness in training while considering his next competitive target for 2027.
Looking back on the remarkable weeks in July and August when he broke the mile world record before winning Commonwealth gold in Glasgow, he said: “It has been a very good year.
“I see those achievements as closely connected because they happened so near to one another. Setting the world record in the event I would later contest at a home Commonwealth Games created the perfect platform.
The Scotland players go through their final preparations for the clash against New Zealand
“After that, I was able to return home, and the experience was completely different. The two moments had their own identity.
“The difficult part was that I probably could not savour either achievement as fully as I would have liked because they came so close together. But the world record undoubtedly made the Commonwealth Games experience even more powerful, both for me and for everyone watching. It gave me greater belief that I could go home and deliver.
“Everything went as smoothly as you could hope. Looking at the results, you would say there was not much more I could have done. Now the question is how we build from that and maintain this level consistently.
“The next major objective is finding that consistency. We need to understand what worked, and identify the areas where we can improve.
“I was fortunate to compete in Glasgow at the 2024 World Indoors and win there, followed by the 2026 outdoor Commonwealth Games.
“The more major championships held in the UK, the better. I seem to perform well on home soil, so hopefully that run can continue.”
