McConnochie aims to fulfil boyhood dream

By BEN JAYCOCK

Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie is eager to fulfil his boyhood dream of playing for Scotland after being called up to Gregor Townsend's Six Nations squad.

The London-born flyer, 31, featured for England at the 2019 World Cup but can now represent the country of his parents' birth because three years have passed since his last England cap.

“People disagree about the ruling but I think why not?” said McConnochie, whose mother grew up in Edinburgh and whose Glaswegian father moved to London in the 1980s.

“Your career is short – why shouldn't you go for the most you can? It's been pretty surreal. I couldn't quite believe it when Gregor called me.

“My dad is a very proud Scot. He has supported Scotland all his life and played or had a trial with Scottish Schoolboys. We grew up with all the stories about his favourite players. It was always in our thoughts that we were Scotland fans.”

If head coach Townsend gives McConnochie – who scored a try against the USA in one of his two matches at RWC2019 – game time in the Six Nations he would become the first player to represent England and Scotland in the modern era.

With Edinburgh's Darcy Graham injured, Mc-Connachie is competing against the recalled Sean Maitland of Saracens and Glasgow's Kyle Steyn for a place on the opposite wing to Duhan van der Merwe.

“It's a foot in the door,” said McConnachie. “I'm not getting any younger and I want to make the most of it.” Mc-Connochie, who has “an immense amount of pride” at winning two England caps, added: “At the time we thought that was me saying goodbye to Scotland and my childhood dream. I am so happy it's come round and to get the opportunity to train with the squad and try to push into that 23 is really cool.”

Munster fly-half Ben Healy, 23, who will join Edinburgh in the summer, is another new face in the squad. He was born in Ireland and represented the U20s but qualifies for Scotland through his mother.

Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall and Leicester second-row Cameron Henderson are the other three included who are yet to feature for the national team.

Switch: Ruaridh McConnochie won his last England cap in 2019, inset below

PICTURES: Getty Images

McConnochie's Bath team-mates Josh Bayliss and Cameron Redpath are included with Jamie Ritchie continuing as captain.

Head coach Townsend said: “The Six Nations around the corner is a very exciting time and the one year out of the four we as coaches can't wait for is the World Cup year.

“I think rugby is so competitive within the Six Nations but also world rugby so really, really fortunate and grateful to be involved.”