MacDougall goes back to league - but still hopes for World Cup call

Published on Wednesday 16 May 2007 00:33

THE SRU's closure of the Borders has left Frank Hadden with a headache over his World Cup centres after Ben MacDougall revealed yesterday he had been forced into returning to rugby league.

The Borders outside centre is known to be high up the pecking order within the national squad coach's thinking and, had he steered clear of injury this season, would probably have been No 2 to Marcus Di Rollo. His defensive skills and improving ability to cut through defences with ball in hand have impressed Alan Tait, the former Reivers coach, dual-code Lion and current assistant to Hadden with Scotland.

MacDougall played league from school, Matt Williams bringing him to Scotland from Melbourne Storm in 2004. Williams sparked controversy when he thrust MacDougall straight into the Scotland squad in his first months in union, but a series of injuries prevented the new face winning a cap until 2006, deputising for an injured Di Rollo.

By that time he had moved from Edinburgh to the Borders having failed to win over Hadden, the then capital coach, and he won his second and last cap off the bench against South Africa last year.

MacDougall, 30 next week, qualifies for Scotland through a paternal grandfather from Glasgow and he has become a popular figure in knuckling down and improving as a union player at the Borders. He was desperate to be part of Hadden's World Cup plans, however, with his contract ending this month and neither Glasgow nor Edinburgh willing to sign him for anything close to the reputed 100,000 a year he is on, the centre has turned his thoughts back home. MacDougall said: "Although I've had some interest within union, the most attractive offers I'm getting are from league clubs. It's been a really difficult decision, but I fully understand that Frank Hadden cannot give me any guarantee of involvement in the World Cup and, just now, it's coming down to livelihood.

"I'm looking to take up a contract with rugby league until the end of the season, but, ideally, I'd like to leave the door open to play again for Scotland. I've spent three years playing rugby union, a sport that I hadn't really played since I was at school in Australia and I feel I've got to the point where if I was to stay in union for another year then the best would be to come."

MacDougall would not say which club he was joining, but he is destined for a return to the NRL in Australia, which is only into week ten of a 25-week season, ending on 7 September. He would be free and perhaps fit enough to play for Scotland in the World Cup, but there must be some doubt as to whether Hadden would do so after the player had spent three months playing league.

Hadden said: "I wish Ben well. Obviously, his immediate plans mean he could not be considered for selection for the Churchill Cup, but I'm pleased at Ben's desire to play union again and at his leaving the door open for a possible Scotland return."

With MacDougall out of the Scotland A squad for the Churchill Cup, opportunity springs for his former Reivers team-mate Nick de Luca and possibly utility Calum MacRae, both of whom are heading to Edinburgh this summer.

Frank Hadden has named 16 capped players in the 29-man squad he takes charge of to finalise World Cup preparations. Stuart Grimes withdrew with a minor injury which would seem to end hopes of adding to his 71 caps.