Paddy Coupar a true Braveheart - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Paddy Coupar a true Braveheart

By Tom Wald 17/10/2008 05:18:33 PM Comments (0)

Could somebody please pinch Paddy Coupar?

The only member of Scotland's team who actually plays in that country felt like he was living a dream at the Bravehearts' first training session for the rugby league World Cup.

"It is massive for me, I have seen half of these players play on telly when I am sitting on my lounge so to go from that to be on the park with them is massive," said Coupar.

"But I think I am coping with it well and not getting too in awe of anyone and getting in and enjoying the banter with them."

Coupar, 22, plays for the title-holding Edinburgh Eagles in Scotland's unheralded amateur league at either halfback or in the centres.

The competition is such small fry that it is played in summer to attract rugby union players during their off-season.

The bulk of the Scottish team is made up of players from the English Super League competition along with a sprinkling of NRL players in Ian Henderson, Michael Robertson, Chris Armit and Scott Logan.

Some of the players don't know how to put on a kilt and even looked a little sheepish at the prospect of eating haggis at Friday's press call.

But don't question their loyalty according to Coupar.

"If you have Scotland in your blood then you know what it is all about," he said.

"As far as haggis goes and putting on a kilt I will show them what to do but other then that everyone is Scotland through and through."

With rugby league's eligibility rules continually under scrutiny, Bravehearts coach Steve McCormack wasn't putting any pressure on his charges to prove their loyalty by chomping on haggis.

"They don't have to eat haggis to prove they are Scottish, they are all eligible," he said with a smile before having a spoonful of the steamed pudding consisting of minced sheep, heart, lungs and liver.

But Manly's grand final-winning star Robertson did anyway and didn't find it too sobering an experience following the Sea Eagles' lengthy premiership celebrations.

"I needed few decent nights of sleep before getting into this but I am really looking forward to getting back into the spin of things," he said.

"I don't reckon the haggis is as bad as people say but it does have a bit of an after taste to it."

Robertson, whose grandfather is Scottish, only just missed out on making the Kangaroos squad and now must prepare to wear a kilt at post-match functions.

As for wearing a kilt for the first time, he added: "Looking forward to that, it will be a bit interesting I don't think I have the legs for it."

Scotland open their World Cup campaign against France on Sunday week at Canberra Stadium.

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