Jack the Jock

Aussie Dempsey could get a Scotland call-up

FORMER Australia star Jack Dempsey could get a Scotland call-up next year.

The Glasgow back row ace won 14 caps for the Aussies but is in line to switch allegiances after World Rugby announced capped players could represent another country if they have “a close and credible link via birthright” and have not played international rugby for three years.

Dempsey, whose grandfather was born in Glasgow, has not turned out for the Wallabies since October 2019.

But he has been one of the Warriors’ top performers this season and his powerful ball-carrying is bound to appeal to Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend – who has proven he’s happy to use rugby’s eligibility rules to plug gaps in his team.

Dempsey admitted earlier this week that he had mixed emotions when he attended Scotland’s recent Autumn Test victory over Australia.

The 27-year-old said: “I’ve got a foot in both camps now. I know a lot of the players with Scotland and I’m contributing to that culture so there was a part of me thinking it was great to see Matt Fagerson running out there in the No.8 jersey.

“I wanted him to do well whereas in the past I wouldn’t. So I had mixed emotions on the day, definitely.”

That was before the new ruling and while Dempsey is focused on helping Glasgow overcome Benetton in the United Rugby Championship tomorrow, he will also be looking to join up with Fagerson and Co on the international stage in the future.

Meanwhile, Warriors team-mate Murray McCallum will join old Edinburgh pals Rory Sutherland and Duhan van der Merwe at English Premiership side Worcester Warriors in the new year.

The 25-year-old prop, who was capped three times by Scotland in 2018, joined Glasgow on a short-term deal in the summer.

He said: “The Premiership is the ultimate test for a prop.”