It’s fair to say the last Australian who captain the Scotland rugby team created a wee ruckus.
Doug Keller, having played six Tests for the Wallabies in the late 1940s, moved to London to finish his medical studies and after impressing in club rugby and trial games, was picked to play in the back row for Scotland in 1949.
Keller, who qualified by a Scottish grandmother, was also made captain and went on to lead the Scots in seven Tests.
But, according to Keller’s profile on the Classic Wallabies site, the appointment created outrage, with one journalist saying of the “repugnant” decision: “The selectors have descended to a new level of self-abasement.”
The blazer brigade apparently agreed and the next year the International Rugby Union Board (a forerunner to World Rugby) promptly banned anyone playing for British teams who’d previously played for one of the dominions.
Fast-forward 75 years and Scotland have themselves another Australian captain, although this time the reception has been far more welcoming.
Former Rebels back Sione Tuipulotu is a midfield weapon for Scotland.Credit: Getty
Sione Tuipulotu was made Scottish skipper less than a month ago and, in historic scenes, he’ll captain the team against the Wallabies at Murrayfield on Monday morning (AEDT).
Tuipulotu grew up in Melbourne, played three years in the Junior Wallabies (a record) and then played for the Melbourne Rebels. After a lack of game time, he moved to Scotland to play and by virtue of his grandmother Jacquelin “Anne” Thomson, he debuted for Scotland in 2021, having played 31 Tests since.
When Scotland coach Gregor Townsend was searching for new leadership this year, he turned to the son of parents with Tongan and Scottish-Italian heritage.
Gavin Hastings is a former Scotland and Lions captain.Credit: Getty Images
And unlike the Keller decision, Tuipulotu’s appointment as captain was met with the deafening silence of approval in Scotland.
“We are delighted to have him,” former Scotland and Lions captain Gavin Hastings told this masthead.
“He has a Scottish grandparent, so in my mind he has absolutely qualified to play for Scotland. He has taken his chance and excelled. I am very, very happy for him and I am happy for Scotland because he is a terrific player.
“I am sure if he continues his form he will be named in the Lions squad as well.”
For several years, Scotland has had a policy of recruiting project players from other nations who can qualify for Scottish eligibility via ancestry, or residency.
Tuipulotu has been playing alongside former Wallaby Jack Dempsey in the Scottish team for the past few seasons, although Dempsey won’t be available to play against the Wallabies after suffering a shoulder injury.
Sione Tuipulotu’s younger brother Mosese, a former Waratah who departed to play for Glasgow mid-year, will also play for Scotland A on Saturday night.
The Tuipulotu brothers were given an emotional surprise on Wednesday when their grandmother was secretly flown to Scotland by a sponsor to watch them both play this weekend.
The brothers were told they’d be meeting a competition winner in the Murrayfield dressing rooms, and they were stunned to see it was their granny, who grew up in Greenock, in the Scottish lowlands. As she told this masthead last month, the grandmother and her grandsons have a tight relationship but Sione had not seen her in three years.
“It was awesome,” Mosese said later at Scotland’s Oriam training centre.
Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu (L) and Mosese Tuipulotu (R) as they are surprised by their grandmother Jacquelin Thomson at Murrayfield.Credit: SNG Group/SRU
“It was actually a massive surprise just because me and my brother didn’t know anything about it. They did pretty well to keep it under wraps. It was a pretty emotional one just because when I left back home and move over here for rugby, you don’t know you’re going to see your family again. It was a very special moment just to see my gran again. And I’m sure it’ll be more special for my brother, because he hadn’t seen her in such a long time.
“She left here as a young girl and now she’s back here, where she grew up and being able to watch both her boys pull on a Scotland jersey. She’s a great woman and plenty of character. I’m very happy to be representing her for the first time this weekend.”
Mosese said he’d been highly impressed watching his brother in a leadership role in the Scotland camp.
“It’s quite strange just because he’s my brother and you’re so used to hanging out outside of rugby and mucking around with him,” he said. “But I’ve seen kind of a different side of him in here.”
Wallabies halfback Nic White said there is no bitternessabout Australians playing for another country.
“To see a guy [like Tuipulotu] get recognised, and not only get an opportunity but make the most of that opportunity, I think we are all just bloody happy for him,” he said.
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