<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago, 12 miles from Twickenham, Scotland parked coaches on very English lawns.<\/p>\n
In the stately surroundings of RGS Surrey Hills school in Dorking, a group of Under-16 and Under-18 prospects ran through drills under the eyes of staff from Scottish Rugby’s SQ (Scottish Qualified) programme.<\/p>\n
The scheme is designed to establish connections with youngsters who, like Ashman, Rodd and many others, live and play outside of Scotland, but could one day represent its senior sides.<\/p>\n
The SQ programme’s coaches, which include English-born former Scotland international Peter Walton, act on tip-offs from schools and clubs. <\/p>\n
They also set up a recruiting station at high-level age-grade rugby events, inviting those with the ancestry and interest to scan a QR code and enter their details.<\/p>\n
All countries work to maximise their talent pool.<\/p>\n
England are keen to ensure that Under-20 Rugby World Cup winner Junior Kpoku, who plays for Toulon and could become available to France, will go on to wear white at senior level.<\/p>\n
South African-born centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg will soon be eligible for England on residence grounds after the Rugby Football Union successfully asked for a review of his tie to the Springboks.<\/a><\/p>\n But for nations with a smaller talent pool – Scotland has about 50,000 club players, compared to England’s 880,000 – there is a higher premium on making sure a particular promising youngster chooses to represent them.<\/p>\n What are the factors that come into a player’s decision?<\/p>\n First and foremost, there is national pride.<\/p>\n Ashman said that back in 2021, he explained “quite bluntly” to England’s coaches that he wanted to play for Scotland.<\/p>\n Sometimes, however, players can be torn between different parts of their identity.<\/p>\n Flanker Gary Graham, the son of former Scotland prop George Graham, grew up in Carlisle. He attended a training camp with England and, perhaps in an effort to wind up his father in a joint interview, told the Daily Mail in February 2018, external<\/span><\/a> that he “feels more English than Scottish”.<\/p>\n