Glasgow Warriors star set for Miami World Cup trip — unless Gregor Townsend comes calling first

Glasgow Warriors’ fly-half Dan Lancaster is planning a trip to Miami this summer to watch Steve Clarke’s Scotland take on Brazil in the FIFA World Cup.

However, the former Racing 92 man admits that those plans could very well change if he gets a call from Gregor Townsend ahead of July’s Rugby Nations Championship fixtures. The football match in Miami will be played on Wednesday, June 24 while the Scotland rugby team kick off their summer Test matches in Argentina ten days later on Saturday, July 4.

Lancaster, who represented Scotland ‘A’ earlier this year in a 24-24 draw with Italy, knows that he faces stiff competition for a spot in the national team squad. Finn Russell is the established starting 10 while Tom Jordan and Fergus Burke are vying for the second string berth.

“The bigger the game, the better the oppertunity” - Glasgow Warriors’ fly-half hoping URC play-offs can lead to International honours

Russell will be competing in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs next month with Bath while Jordan’s Bristol Bears and Burke’s Saracens are currently both chasing the fourth and final spot in that competition. In the URC, there will be a chance for Lancaster, and fellow Warrior Adam Hastings, to put their hands up for international selection.

“If you look at the Premiership, Bristol are still in with a shout, obviously Tom is there,” said Lancaster. “Saracens are playing really well at the minute, Fergus is playing really well.

“Bath speaks for itself, European semi-final, Finn is playing really well, and obviously Adam's been in the squad the whole time. I think the bigger the game, the better the opportunity, because it’s high-pressure, it's win or go home.”

Despite having such tough competition in his way if he wants to break into the senior Scotland set-up, the 24-year old says he isn’t at all daunted by the prospect. He added: “I don't think they're worried about what I'm doing, and I'm not worried about what they're doing.

“I've been lucky to learn off some of the best 10s in the world, you look at Owen (Farrell) , you look at George Ford, they're some of the best 10s that's ever been around, and especially in England.

“So I've been lucky to learn from them, here obviously to bounce ideas off Adam, and then with the new group we've got next year, I'll bounce ideas with them. We all help each other but we're all pretty competitive to play at the weekend.”

Dan Lancaster opens up on football allegiances after switching from England to Scotland in Rugby

It remains to be seen who Gregor Townsend will pick for this summer’s Test matches against Argentina, South Africa and Fiji. If he isn’t called up then Lancaster will be cheering on Scotland in the round ball sport.

“Scotland play Brazil in Miami, so that'll be the game I go out for. I haven't booked a holiday, but I've booked an Airbnb and it's free cancellation, so you never know. I might have a couple of tickets, but they'd have to get given away, we’ll see.”

The former Leicester Tigers’ stand-off was, of course, born in England and is the son of their former rugby national team head coach Stuart Lancaster. He is a supporter of Leeds United but when it comes to internationals his allegiance is very much with Steve Clarke’s men.

Asked who he would support if Scotland were playing England in the final, Lancaster said: “Scotland. No Scotland, no party.”

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