AFTER just one year at St Mark’s and St John’s University in Plymouth Jersey centre Ross Allan is looking to move to Scotland, to further his rugby union career.

The former Hampshire youth player, who also captained the junior London Divisional U20 side last year – just a short step from the age-group England side – has recently returned from a week in Edinburgh where two clubs wanted to sign him after seeing him train.

‘It came about because Phil Smith, the Edinburgh Academy coach, had heard about me while Ross Henderson, who used to coach the U16s in Jersey, is the cousin of Frank Hadden, who also coaches in Edinburgh and is, I believe, the stand-in Scotland manager.

‘Anyway, my father and I went up for a week of trials and I trained on Tuesday and Thursday, with both Boroughmuir and Currie, feeder clubs to Edinburgh and they both wanted me to sign on there and then.

‘However, I’ve only just completed the first year of my sports science degree in Plymouth, so although I’d like to play in Edinburgh, I’ll have to change universities.

I’ve had a long chat with my parents about it and its definitely what I want to do.

‘At the moment Phil Smith is trying to get me a place in an Edinburgh university to continue my course, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.’ Ross (20), who also played rugby last year for his university and for top Devon team Plymouth Albion, is currently training daily, following a series of e-mails detailing what his training regime ought to be from the Plymouth side.

All of this, however, he would happily give up if a university place can be found in Scotland’s capital.

‘My dad, Stuart Allan, is Scottish and most of my mum’s family live there,’ he said.

‘And realistically I’ve a better chance of fulfilling my rugby career in Scotland, rather than England.

‘I also took part in the Edinburgh 1st team warm-up at Murrayfield on the Wednesday, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

‘Added to that, the outside centre at Currie is a Scottish under-21 international, so I’d quite like to have a chance of playing alongside him.

‘My dad still retains his Dundee accent, although some of his friends say it isn’t so pronounced these days.

Whether or not I’ll ever play for Scotland, we’ll just have to wait and see – although if England gave me the opportunity to play for them, I would be very tempted!’