I’ve really loved my 15 years as a professional

WHEN I was sat in the stands at Murrayfield watching the players belt out the national anthems before Scotland took on Wales in the Six Nations, I couldn’t help but think that could’ve been me. The fact that I never played Test rugby is only something that has crossed my mind a few times but that was one occasion where it hit home to me just how close I once was.

- STEVEN SHINGLER

Back in 2012, Andy Robinson, the then Scotland head coach had seen me play one of the games of my life for London Irish in the Heineken Cup against Edinburgh, and somehow he’d got wind that I was Scottish qualified (through my mum, who was born in Dumfries). Mike Catt, who was at Irish with me, was good friends with him from their days together at Bath so I think he must’ve passed on my number.

Andy called me and told me that Td be starting at 12 against England ina fortnight’s time. I was going to the cinema with my flat-mate, Jonathan Spratt, who is now my agent, but I turned on my heels and went back home and rang mam and dad, my brother, and my agent, and then I weighed it all up, the pros and the cons.

The Gatland Law wasn’t in place then but with me playing outside of Wales and players of the calibre of Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland, Dan Biggar and James Hook ahead of me in the pecking order, and Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams at 12, where J also played a bit, Wales was stacked in my position. So I was like, Thave an opportunity to play Test rugby with Scotland, who I have a lot of affinity with because we used to spend a lot of summers up there as a child visiting my mum’s family, why not take it rather than hold out for a chance with Wales.

So I went up to the Scotland camp and spent two days there, but then the IRB adjudicator came in and said I had to leave the squad. I flew back to London, played for Irish on the Saturday and had man of the match. Then I can remember after the game looking at Sky Sports news and there was an article saying, ‘Set- back for Shingler as IRB ban him from playing for Scotland.’