- Former Scotland international rugby player had subjected his former partner to a two-year campaign of domestic abuse
- He was was sacked by Scottish Rugby for ‘gross misconduct and breach of contract’ after pleading guilty
- But now he could return to the international game with the USA after being called up for their summer fixtures, which includes a match against England
- The Eagles are then due to take on Scotland in the Autumn Tests… meaning McLean could run out at Murrayfield once again
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.
Rufus McLean had played for Scotland and Glasgow Warriors but his career there ended after he pled guilty to domestic abuse
After he pled guilty in court, McLean eventually moved to the USA to continue his career
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.
