Lachlan Walmsley, named Entertainer of the Year for his debut season with Whitehaven, has been named in the latest Scotland selection.
The Scots have announced their 20-man squad to face Jamaica this Sunday, October 24, at Featherstone and Walmsley is included.
The 22-year-old Australian qualifies for Scotland through his maternal grandfather George, who lived in Perthshire before emigrating to Australia as a Ten Pound Pom after the war.
“I grew up hearing stories about Scotland, and the chance of having a shot at making the squad for the World Cup was a big draw for me coming to play for Whitehaven,” he said on arrival last winter.
He backed himself to do that after working his way through the ranks in the NRL with Newcastle Knights and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Head coach Nathan Graham has named six uncapped players in his squad including two from Cumbrian clubs.
Former Under-20s Scottish rugby union cap Guy Graham, who is with Whitehaven, will be looking to make his first full international appearance, and Scotland Under-19s and students player Charlie Emslie from Barrow is hoping to achieve senior international honours having come through the Scotland rugby league pathway.
“It’s great to see someone like Charlie Emslie who has come all the way through the Scotland pathway.
“From Under-19s, through the students and on to the first team set up. He is a great example of what we are about and what can be achieved by young people committing to the process,” added Graham.
Oscar Thomas, who spent part of last season with Whitehaven is also in the squad but Haven’s Callum Phillips and Barrow’s Connor Terrill have not made it through from the original extended squad.
Graham said: “The sessions have been great in terms of getting people together after a couple of years away from the international arena.
“It was tough to pick a squad of 20 but I am confident we have the personnel to perform well on Sunday. We have a lot of newcomers to the group and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can bring to the mix.”
Squad: Danny Addy, Ryan Brierley, James Bell, Kieran Buchanan*, Davey Dixon, Charlie Emslie*, Dale Ferguson, Guy Graham*, Ben Hellewell, Liam Hood, Ben Kavanagh, Sam Luckley, Joe McClean, Kieran Moran, Will Oakes, Rob Oakley*, Jack Teanby*, Oscar Thomas, Alex Walker, Lachlan Walmsley*.
*Uncapped
