WALKER’S SCOT ON A WORLD CUP RUN

FORMER Essex Senior League player Alex Walker is one Scotsman who can look forward to playing in a World Cup – on the Rugby League field!

While Gordon Strachan and the Tartan Army failed in their mission to make it to Russia next year, Walker, who played for Sawbridgeworth Town, is off to Australia later this month with the Scottish Rugby League squad.

Walker has enjoyed a stellar season with the London Broncos in the Kingstone Press Championship, finishing runnerup for the Division’s Young Player of the Year award while winning the club’s award.

Five years ago, Alex – a full-back – was coming through the ranks with Broncos when the club was in financial trouble.

To keep himself fit, he trained with Sawbridgeworth Town, where his father Alan was No.2 to manager Marc Das.

Walker said: “I remember my first game and my last game for Sawbo. It was my first experience of playing with men in any sport.

“I was only 16 so it was a lot different to kids football. Then my last game was when the Broncos went into administration, so I played a few games to keep fit while my rugby career was up in the air.

“I absolutely loved it as I hadn’t played football in a couple of years and got stuck upfront!”

Scotland’s first match in the tournament is against Tonga on October 29.