Scots target Shingler could make Wales test debut

STEVEN Shingler is hopeful of finally making the step-up to international rugby in Japan in the coming weeks, albeit in the red of Wales rather than the navy blue of Scotland.

Steven Shingler, during the fateful game between Wales and France under-20s. Picture: Welsh Rugby Union

The 21-year-old fly-half and centre had attempted to use his mother’s Borders roots to progress on the Scottish ladder last year after former Scotland head coach Andy Robinson selected him, erroneously as it turned out, for the RBS Six Nations at the start of 2012. However, the call proved to be ten months too late.

Shingler was born in Swansea, coming through the Llanelli Scarlets set-up, and played 11 times for Wales at under-20 level. Under current IRB regulations, a player is not tied to a nation until he plays at ‘A’ level or equivalent second team standard. However, in 2011, Wales did not have an ‘A’ team and neither did France, so when those nations met at under-20 level that game became, in effect, a second team match and duly tied all players involved to their respective country.

Shingler maintained that he was not aware of that and would not have played had he known. The SRU appealed but the IRB agreed with Wales that he was tied and could not now switch allegiance. He has since repaired relations with Wales and will return to the Scarlets from London Irish this summer, and, with 15 caps involved with the British and Irish Lions this summer, is among nine uncapped players included in the summer tour squad to Japan, where Wales face the host nation in Osaka on 8 June and then in Tokyo on 15 June.

He joins his capped brother Aaron in the squad and while he may not be wearing the navy blue, but there will be many in and around Langholm, in particular, delighted if he finally makes the step-up to the international arena next month.

Interim coach Robin McBryde said: “We’ve had the training squad together for more than a week and we’ve been impressed.

“Everyone in the training squad put their hand up for selection making our jobs much harder. It’s a chance for these players now to experience the international Test environment and put their marker down.”

SEE ALSO:

• Shingler: ‘I feel I rushed my decision on Scotland’

Wales Squad: Forwards - Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues); Backs - Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Patchell (Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish).