Latest news with #RufusMcLean
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ex-Scotland winger Rufus McLean called up by USA after domestic abuse conviction
Rufus McLean playing for Scotland against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2021. | Getty Images Three-times capped international could play against Scots at Murrayfield Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rufus McLean, the former Scotland winger who pleaded guilty to domestic abuse charges, has been called up by the USA national team and could play against Scotland at Murrayfield in November. The ex-Glasgow Warriors player has been named in the US squad for their summer series which includes a match against England. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rufus McLean playing for Scotland against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2021. | Getty Images The player moved to the United States and played for American Raptors before joining Houston SaberCats. McLean, who was born in Boston and grew up in Scotland, is now set to resume his international rugby career with the USA Eagles. He won his last Scotland cap in the summer Test against Argentina on July 16, 2022, and is able to switch international allegiance after a three-year 'cooling off' period under World Rugby regulations. The USA have three matches scheduled for next month, against Belgium on July 5, Spain on July 12 and England on July 19. It means McLean could make his debut in the latter fixture at Audi Field in Washington DC. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rufus McLean scored two tries on his Scotland debut against Tonga on October 30, 2021. | AFP via Getty Images The USA will tour Europe in the autumn and are due to play Scotland at Murrayfield on November 1. McLean first played for Scotland at the Edinburgh stadium in October 2021, scoring two tries on his debut in a 60-14 win over Tonga. He then featured in the 30-15 loss to world champions South Africa the following month. McLean engaged in a campaign of 'aggressive' and 'controlling' domestic abuse against his former partner. He admitted in court he had regularly sworn at her and been verbally abusive towards her, pushed her to her injury, tracked her movements via her phone's location service, requested passwords for her social media accounts and dictated what she could and couldn't wear.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Shamed Rufus McLean called up by USA... and could face Scotland at Murrayfield later this year
Shamed former Scotland star Rufus McLean is set to make a controversial return to international rugby with the USA - and could potentially face Gregor Townsend 's side at Murrayfield this year. The ex-Glasgow Warriors winger looked set to become a regular fixture in the Scotland squad when he won three caps and scored twice on his debut against Tonga in 2021. Then came the shocking revelation McLean had subjected his former partner Cara Haston to a two-year campaign of domestic abuse. Handed a 120-hour community payback order by Sheriff Matthew Auchinloss and banned from contacting Haston for 10 years, the former Merchiston High pupil was sacked by Scottish Rugby for 'gross misconduct and breach of contract'. Now, having since moved to America, he is set to return to the international fold with the US after fulfilling World Rugby's regulation that states a player is eligible to switch nationalities after a three-year 'cooling off' period in which they haven't been capped. McLean's final Scotland appearance was on July 16, 2022. Now McLean could play against Scotland for the USA in the Autumn Test series He has been named in the USA Eagles' squad for their summer fixtures and could make his debut against England at Audi Field in Washington DC on July 19. McLean could also line up against Scotland at Murrayfield later this year when the countries meet in the November Test series. Boston-born McLean moved to the US last year when he was signed by the Colorado-based American Raptors before switching to the Houston SaberCats earlier this year. USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence said: 'Generally across the outside backs, one of the things we wanted to do was increase the team speed. 'So when you look at a guy who runs 10.4 metres per second, and who has played at a high level of rugby, you go: 'Yeah, that's a guy that helps us achieve that'. 'It's good to have him (McLean) in the mix this year. I think that's a huge one.' McLean engaged in a campaign of 'aggressive' and 'controlling' domestic abuse against his former partner. He admitted in court he had regularly sworn at her and been verbally abusive towards her, pushed her to her injury, tracked her movements via her phone's location service, requested passwords for her social media accounts and dictated what she could and couldn't wear.
