Gabby: My son playing rugby for England ‘has caused family moments’ (...well his dad Kenny is a true Scots legend!)
HIS father is one of Scotland’s all-time rugby greats, winning 70 caps for his country.
And this week Reuben Logan will follow in dad Kenny Logan’s footsteps after being called up for his first international match.
However, when he steps out to face France on Saturday, the 17-year-old flanker – whose mother is television star Gabby Logan – will be wearing the white jersey of England.
The talented young player, who spent most of his childhood south of the Border, was selected for England Rugby Under 18s last month.
Reuben had the opportunity to either play for his father’s home country of Scotland, England, where he lives and attends school, or even Wales, home nation of his sports presenter mother.
Mrs Logan, a former Wales
‘Always said he wants to play for Scotland’
international gymnast, is the daughter of Welsh football player and manager Terry Yorath.
Referring to her son’s new rugby kit as the ‘elephant in the room’, she said: ‘My son has always said he is Scottish and wants to play for Scotland… and has played for the Under17s for Scotland.’
She added that she and her husband were proud but joked that the England call-up was ‘causing some family moments’.
Reuben, who bears a striking resemblance to Kenny, 50 – but is already a few inches taller than his 6ft father – has been training at the Midlands Central rugby academy and won a scholarship aged 11.
As a flanker, the position most commonly involved in winning the ball in open play, he must show he is an all-rounder who is both fast and strong, able to tackle and handle the ball well.
England men’s U18 head coach Jonathan Pendlebury said: ‘Being selected for England at any level is a proud moment, and one these young men and their families have been building towards throughout their careers, with the help of the hard work from their schools, junior and community rugby clubs, and academies.’
Kenny and Gabby Logan were married in his home town of Stirling in 2001.
After fertility struggles, the couple had twins Reuben and
Lois via IVF in 2005. Rugby Union rules mean that, while Reuben currently plays for England, he could still play for his father’s beloved Scotland in the future.
From January 2022, rugby players were granted the opportunity to switch national teams once in their career in a move to keep the sport ‘competitive’. At senior level, there must be a ‘stand down’ period of three years before a player can change allegiance.