THREE brothers will pull on Scottish jerseys in the Rugby League World Cup this weekend for the first time, perhaps with memories of macaroon bars, lorne sausage and Scottish folk music flooding back as O' Flower of Scotland rings out in the Australian capital.
The Hendersons – Andrew, 29, Kevin, 27 and 25-year-old Ian – were all named yesterday in the Scotland Rugby League squad for Sunday's opening World Cup match against France in Canberra. Ian starts at hooker – he is also a loose forward and stand-of
f – and Kevin at centre, with the more experienced elder brother Andrew, a hooker/scrum-half, on the bench but certain to play.
"It's pretty exciting now," said Andrew, "because for all that many of us have played in big games for clubs in the UK, Australia or New Zealand, the chance to represent your country, and wear a Scottish jersey, doesn't come along very often in league, so it's special.
"From the moment we stepped off the plane, the media interest in the Scotland squad has been huge. I made my debut five years ago and have seven caps, and I always wanted my brothers to follow, but this is the first time we've managed it and we're pretty excited now about being on the field together for Scotland in a World Cup."
Tonga also have three brothers in their squad, Eddie, Mickey and Lopini Paea, while the Walters brothers – Kevin, Steve and Kerrod – represented Australia during the Kangaroos' tour of England in 1992, but, with the Tongans in action on Monday, the Scots will set a World Cup first if they all appear on the field at the same time on Sunday.
The very first World Cup-winning team was Great Britain, in 1954, and they were captained by a Scot, the late Dave Valentine from Hawick. But in a squad of four Australian-based players, seven Super League stars, and just one Scotland-based player – Paddy Coupar – many will wonder 'How Scottish are the Hendersons?'
"We were born in Torquay in England and grew up in Australia," explained Andrew, "but our dad (Martin] has always made sure we knew all about our roots.
"He's from Glasgow and moved south, where he met my mum. They had the three of us and then left for Australia when I was seven, for a better lifestyle and opportunities, I guess.
"He was a big football man, but we discovered rugby league on TV in Australia and really took to it. We were actually brought up near the Bluetongue Stadium where we're playing Fiji next week, so my aunt and uncle – who also emigrated from Scotland – and cousins will all be there.
"But dad certainly brought us up to know we had Scots blood – he liked his folk music, and his mum sent us macaroon bars and that square sausage regularly."
The brothers grew up on the Central Coast, about an hour north of Sydney, and progressed through National Rugby League (NRL) academies, Ian making his debut with the Sydney Roosters at 19 and Kevin similarly starting with Newcastle Knights after Andrew, now 29, had returned to the UK and joined Castleford, and duly captained 'Cas' to two promotions in four years.
The Rugby League World Cup returns after an eight-year absence with just ten teams, in an effort to keep it profitable. Jon Steel, who starts on the wing on Sunday, is the most well-known of the Scottish players to union fans after playing for Glasgow and the Borders, and winning five caps.
The full article contains 600 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
