Jamie Ritchie thanked Sean Everitt for showing confidence in him while admitting it was emotional to be named Edinburgh’s player of the season on Saturday night.

The flanker has had a mixed year having gone to the World Cup as Scotland captain, before losing that honour for the Six Nations, a championship that ended with Ritchie out of Gregor Townsend's team. 

Despite those setbacks, his form for Edinburgh has been excellent and Ritchie praised his club coach for helping maintain his own confidence. 

When asked what the award – voted for by the coaches at Edinburgh – meant to him, he said: “I’m delighted. I was a little bit emotional on the night. It’s been a good year, challenging at times but it’s an honour for me and hopefully what I put out there every weekend has kind of been showing I’m doing alright.

“If you include the World Cup then it was a real high going out there and being named as captain, I was full of confidence and then it was frustrating personally being injured before half-time in two games and coming back and feeling like I started well for Edinburgh.

"There was a couple of quiet games going into the Six Nations and we all know what happened there being in and out of the team.

“I came back to Edinburgh and Sean backed me. He said ‘look I think you’ve been playing well beforehand and playing well now’.

"I played Zebre in the down week and he backed me and kept his confidence in me and my confidence in myself and I felt like I’ve been playing pretty well.

Scotland Rugby News: Jamie Ritchie and Gregor Townsend

“Rugby is funny. It’s quite subjective and driven by opinion and narrative around a lot of things. Sometimes the games come to you and sometimes they don’t."

He has been outstanding for Edinburgh since the Six Nations, and Ritchie  - who is top of the URC's turnover stats for the season - reflected on his own game. 

He added: "It’s funny that when you’re confident it comes to you a bit more and you get yourself in positions and that’s kind of how I’ve felt over the last few weeks.

“A little different part of my game is in the air and we’ve been kicking off a bit more contestable and I feel I’ve been getting myself into the game there and it’s been a reasonable year for getting on the ball. I feel I’ve contributed well to the team."

Losing the captaincy, and his place in the team, was the first major setback for Ritchie since making his Scotland debut on a summer tour to North America six years ago. 

READ MORE: Jamie Ritchie on reflects on losing Scotland captaincy

The 27-year-old is pleased with how he's responded, adding: “From getting into the national team it’s been relatively smooth sailing for me.

"I feel like I’ve been first choice for most of that time without trying to sound arrogant.

"These things come and I feel I’ve proved myself to myself and it didn’t change who I was if I wasn’t getting selected all the time and how I’d be in the environment and what I’m contributing off the field.

“I’m proud of how I’ve handled that.

"It’s natural and important you feel disappointment and a little bit of frustration if you feel you are deserving or missing out on something you want, but it’s how you respond that is important.

"When you’re in the Six Nations group, when you’re not in the team it’s not about forcing yourself back in."

When he was not involved, Ritchie instead turned his focus to helping the team prepare. He was singled out for praise by Harry Paterson after the Edinburgh fullback made his Scotland debut against France. 

READ MORE: Harry Paterson reflects on 'bittersweet' Scotland debut

“If you’re not selected for the game that week it’s about preparing the team as well as you can," Ritchie, who signed for Edinburgh straight out of school, said. 

"I’m pretty experienced in terms of international rugby so helping the guys around me who are maybe not as experienced in my position or helping guys like Rory Darge with his leadership are ways I can contribute and I can try make a difference to the team at the weekend even if I’m not playing.”

Scotland Rugby News: Jamie Ritchie is back in the Scotland team

The Scotland squad for the summer tour will be named in June and although it is expected to be more of a developmental squad, Ritchie is still determined to be involved.

As a former captain, he could resume a leadership role but while some other senior members are expected to be given the summer off to recover from a busy 12 months, that is not on Ritchie's mind. 

He added: “We’ll wait to see what happens around the tour, but I’m keen to go.

"Hopefully I’ll get a shout for that and then we’ll see what happens after that. I might get a wee holiday with the family.”