Scotland hooker George Turner insists he has unfinished business with the national team after being recalled for the upcoming summer tour.
The 32-year-old had fallen out of the picture after leaving Glasgow Warriors to join Kobe Steelers in Japan last year.
But Turner’s stint in the Far East came to an end after just 12 months due to eligibility issues around clubs having a limit on foreign players.
He has since agreed a deal to join Harlequins as of next season, where he will link up with former Glasgow and Scotland coach Danny Wilson.
Turner’s move back to the UK has earned him an instant recall to the Scotland squad, with Gregor Townsend’s side heading off on tour to the South Pacific this week.
They will face the Māori All Blacks in New Zealand on July 5, before then taking on Fiji in Suva the following weekend. They will round off the tour by facing Samoa at the iconic Eden Park in Auckland — and Turner is chomping at the bit to get going again.
George Turner trains at the Oriam in Edinburgh after returning to the Scotland fold
The 32-year-old Edinburgh-born hooker has 45 Scotland caps to his name
Gregor Townsend is thrilled to welcome Turner’s experience back into his squad
With 45 caps to his name so far, the former Glasgow man is keen to break through the half-century and make the most of a fresh start with the national team.
‘I kind of knew it would be difficult to come back [into the Scotland squad while in Japan], but we left that door open — and I’m glad I did,’ he said.
‘I always had a goal of getting to 50 caps a few years ago, and hopefully we’ll still make that.’
Turner has been a big miss for Scotland since he left for Japan 12 months ago, with the lineout struggling to click.
The expectation is that he will come back as first-choice despite the fact he’s been away for a year and despite only being a few months shy of his 33rd birthday.
He doesn’t regret the move to Japan and would have been open to extending his stay with Kobe Steelers had it not been for the regulations limiting foreign players.
Former Glasgow Warriors star Turner is excited about his move to Harlequins
‘It took a while to get used to it, and then the kids got settled in the schools, my wife made some really good friends and we ended up doing quite well,’ said Turner. ‘I would have loved to have stayed, but it just wasn’t on the cards.
‘I saw it as a really lucky opportunity, I couldn’t pass it up. It was a great experience and something I’ll have good memories of. I just wish I had maybe picked up more of the language.’
Turner’s move to Harlequins will see him work with former Glasgow coach Danny Wilson, who will operate as Wales’ forwards coach during their summer tour before heading back to The Stoop.
Having a crack at the Premiership is something which enticed him to Quins — and he believes a move back to Glasgow was never a realistic proposition.
‘I don’t really plan ahead much, and in terms of goals, it was only about getting 50 caps for Scotland,’ he added. ‘But then, with the way things unfolded, it was like: “Oh, actually, that’d be awesome, to play some Premiership rugby”, which is something I’m really looking forward to.
‘I think it would have been cool to go back [to Glasgow], but I don’t think, with the players coming through, there’s room for me anymore. They don’t need me there.’
