EXPERIENCED centre Alex Grove says he hasn’t given up hope of adding to his three Scotland international caps.

The 27-year-old won his Scottish caps in 2009 and played in his country’s memorable 9-8 win against Australia at Murrayfield.

Grove has struggled to break into Warriors’ first-team this season after being one of the most consistent performers at Sixways over the last few campaigns.

“As Chris Pennell would say, once you have had a taste of international rugby, you just get hungry for it and want more of it,” said Grove.

“It’s been a long time since I played international rugby but in the last few years I have played for Scotland ‘A’ and just being in that international environment is addictive and you want more of it.

“I would never close the door on international rugby – playing for the national team is something I would like to do again.”

A product of the Warriors academy, the former Rugby School pupil represented Scotland at under 18, 19 and 20 level before his big breakthrough on to the international stage.

He appeared 22 times during director of rugby Dean Ryan’s first season in charge and was rewarded with a new contract last December.

Grove gained his first call-up to the full Scotland squad for the November internationals in 2009, starting games against Fiji and Australia and coming off the bench against Argentina.

Grove’s impressive rise to rugby fame continued in May 2010 when he was named in the Scotland squad to tour Argentina during the summer.

Grove said: “It was a special game when Scotland beat Australia – I think it had been 28 years since Scotland had beaten Australia. I always think that I want to be playing international rugby.”

His qualification for Scotland is through his grandfather Ron Wylie, the former Aston Villa and Birmingham City footballer, who managed West Bromwich Albion.

Grove, who has played five times for Warriors in the Championship this term, said: “My goal in the near future is to play in the Premiership.

“You are not really in the mix internationally unless you are playing in the top-flight.

“I would not say it’s impossible to be picked for your country but you are less likely, particularly playing outside of Scotland. You are even less in the shop window when you are in the Championship.

“My aim must to be get back to the Premiership, get back into the first team and put in some decent performances and then I have got an opporrunity.

“Otherwise, I have to keep my head down and get on with my job.”