Ex-Wallabies bruiser set to play for Scotland
Sam Worthington - 1h ago
Former Wallabies backrower Jack Dempsey is in line to play against Australia this month after the 28-year-old switched his international allegiances to Scotland.
Dempsey played 14 Tests for the Wallabies between 2017-19 and featured under Michael Cheika at the last Rugby World Cup.
But the then Waratahs loose forward did not feature for Australia under Dave Rennie and took up a opportunity with Glasgow Warriors - Rennie's former club - in 2021.
Dempsey's grandfather emigrated to Australia from Scotland and World Rugby's new eligibility laws allow players to represent another country if more than three years have passed since their last cap and there is "a close and credible link via birthright."
"My mum is obviously the one who's on the Scottish side, so I'll pick her brain about a few different things and what she's thinking, because I know my dad doesn't want me to bloody play for Scotland!" Dempsey told The Scotsman in May.
"I addressed the summer as a big thinking, brainstorming operation. I went back to my roots, my parents were over here, and I got to meet my extended family, the Scottish side. But I was also keeping an eye on both camps. There was the Argentina series (against Scotland) and then Australia have been playing recently.
"Both teams have been playing promising rugby but in terms of my own situation I have pretty much made my mind up."
As well as naming Dempsey for the first time on Thursday, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend dropped two selection bombshells by omitting star five-eighth Finn Russell and replacing Stuart Hogg as captain with Jamie Ritchie.
Scotland squad
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Sale), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Exeter), Richie Gray (Glasgow), Nick Haining (Edinburgh), WP Nel (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh, capt), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Ulster), George Turner (Glasgow), Murphy Walker (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)
Backs: Mark Bennett (Edinburgh), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Chris Harris (Gloucester), Adam Hastings (Gloucester), Stuart Hogg (Exeter), George Horne (Glasgow), Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Rufus McLean (Glasgow), Ali Price (Glasgow), Cameron Redpath (Bath), Ollie Smith (Glasgow), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow), Ross Thompson (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (London Irish)
https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/more...0445eb216972a4
