Six Nations: Regular visits to Langholm whet appetite for Steven Shingler to declare for Scotland

STEVEN Shingler was born in Wales and plays in England, but hopes to represent Scotland thanks to a mother whose maiden name was Ireland.

If all that sounds double Dutch, it became even more confusing last night when news broke that, as far as the Welsh Rugby Union is concerned, Shingler is now only eligible to play for them.

Before that news, the 20-year-old himself thought he had dispelled any potential for confusion by declaring unequivocally that he wants to play for Andy Robinson’s squad. As far as he was concerned, he had always known about his ties to Scotland, and was eager to commit himself to the national cause.

So, although it was only six months ago that Scotland’s scouting network first identified the Swansea-born player as someone who would be eligible to represent this country, it was no surprise to Shingler himself. He explained yesterday that. thanks to his mother, Jeanette, who was born in Dumfries, he has been a frequent visitor north of the Border.

“I would be massively proud to play for Scotland,” he said. “My upbringing from my mother means I’ve always known about Scotland. I’ve got my gran, auntie, two uncles and two cousins in Langholm, and other than the past year I’ve been up 15 years on the bounce to see them around the time of the Common Riding. And I’ve competed in the [Langholm] Games as well.”

Shingler would have to step up a few gears from the town’s traditional Games if he were selected to play in the Calcutta Cup match at the start of next month, and even if he were declared eligible he might still have to bide his time before graduating from the squad of 36 named by Robinson yesterday to the 22 who will be selected by the Scotland coach for the England game. If his success at London Irish is a gauge, however, he has the potential to rise to the challenge of international rugby swiftly and with confidence. A back who is being treated by Robinson as primarily an inside- centre, Shingler is just at home at stand-off, as was his mentor at London Irish, former England player Mike Catt. And, if he does need anyone to help him settle in on the international field of play, he can call on clubmate and fellow Scotland squad member Joe Ansbro.

Another uncapped member of Robinson’s squad, 19-year-old Glasgow full-back Stuart Hogg, has an arguably even more distinguished mentor in Jim Renwick. Former Hawick back Renwick was the last teenager to start an international for Scotland – current assistant coach Gregor Townsend came on as a replacement while still in his teens – and Hogg has until his 20th birthday in June to emulate those two.

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time,” Hogg said yesterday of his selection. “Obviously it will be a massive challenge, but hopefully I can get into the starting team. I can play at full-back or at 13. I’ll play wherever if need be.”

Hogg, who made his Glasgow debut last February, signed a contract last week that ties him to the Warriors until 2015. His brother, Graham, played for Scotland at both sevens and age-group level, while their father John won the league with Hawick and was also a top-level referee.

Hogg is joined in the national squad by two other uncapped Glasgow team-mates, Duncan Weir and Rob Harley. Twenty-year-old stand-off Weir is currently the top-scorer in the RaboDirect PRO12 league with 145 points and has represented Scotland at A, sevens and age-group levels.

Harley, a year older than Weir, can play at lock as well as in the back row. While he is part of the group of six uncapped players in the squad named yesterday, he has been in the wider national squad before. So, too, has Fraser McKenzie, the 23-year-old Sale Sharks forward. A former Dunfermline and Edinburgh player, McKenzie, like Weir and Harley, has been one of Scotland A’s outstanding players over the past year and more.

The uncapped half-dozen is completed by Edinburgh winger Lee Jones, another who has played for Scotland A and the national sevens team. The 23-year-old has scored six tries in 28 appearances for Edinburgh since making his debut in a pre-season friendly against London Irish in 2010.

Jones is being rested from Edinburgh’s game against Ulster at Murrayfield tonight, but he knows he will still have the forthcoming Heineken Cup games in which to impress Robinson.

“I’d always rather play, but I’ll take the rest,” he said. “I hope that will freshen me up for the coming games. The Heineken Cup has been a personal highlight for me this season. This is an opportunity for me and I intend to take it.”

Robinson has been enthused by the fact that, in a squad selected on merit, he has felt able to name so many uncapped players. He could easily have added a few more, too, and is fully prepared to do so over the course of the Six Nations Championship if their form continues to impress him.

“I am pleased to reflect on the winning displays we have seen from both Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors over the last two months and the contribution a number of our uncapped players have made to them,” the coach said. “I think what’s also encouraging is that a number of players who have forced their way into contention in that period and who have not made the squad this time, are really knocking on the door.

“That competition for places can only raise our standards, so this Scotland squad can be very much a work in progress over the coming months. We said after the Rugby World Cup that the challenge the Scotland squad must confront is to get on with the business of winning international rugby matches. Potential counts for nothing if you don’t deliver results.”