Cameron Redpath has already been at one Rugby World Cup in a Scotland jersey – back in 2003, when, as an infant, he was cheering on his father Bryan at the tournament in Australia. This summer, the 23-year-old centre hopes to attend his second and this time play a more pivotal role in proceedings as part of Gregor Townsend’s squad for the tournament in France.
“I was actually there in 2003 as a three-year-old with my brother, sister, mum and grandparents,” the Bath player recalled yesterday at Oriam, where the national squad are getting ready for the four-match run of warm-up fixtures which begins a week on Saturday with the visit of Italy.
“It was special, and looking back on the photos of me in a Scotland shirt, it [playing at one] would mean the world to me now, something that I would love to do.
“For me as a kid growing up, my dad had his caps on the wall at home. He went to three World Cups, he’s got them all on the wall, so it would be pretty cool to add mine and do the same one day.
“I’ve obviously been a big rugby fan all my life because of my old man, and I watched a lot of it on TV. But I’ve never actually been to a World Cup game apart from in 2003.”
Starting with his debut in a Calcutta Cup victory two years ago, Redpath has shown in his handful of caps that he can more than hold his own at international level. But, with the squad due to be cut from 41 to 33 in the coming weeks, the question is whether he will get the chance to play at the tournament. With defensive linchpin Chris Harris and the Glasgow trio of Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu and Stafford McDowall also all in contention, he certainly faces a tough fight.
Of course, the same could be said for Scotland at the tournament itself, given they have been drawn in the same group as Ireland, top of the world rankings, and South Africa, the defending champions. While keen not to think too far beyond such daunting opponents, Redpath believes that taking at least one of those scalps in the pool stage could be the key to Scotland achieving something very special.
“We’ve got the focus that we can beat anyone on our day if we get our stuff right.
“I think if we can get out of our group – which is a big challenge – then there is no reason why we can’t win it, because we have the world No.1 and the world champions in there.
“That’s the approach we’re going with – that we’ll take every game as it comes, starting with the first game against South Africa at the start of the pool stage. If we can win that one then we can beat anyone.”
Before his thoughts turn properly to taking on the Irish, the Springboks or any other opponents, as a keen Manchester United supporter, Redpath will be at Murrayfield this afternoon to see the team’s pre-season friendly against Lyon.
“We’ve got the day off so I will definitely be there. I love watching football. It’s probably my favourite sport apart from rugby.
“I’ve always been a Manchester United fan. I’ve never seen them in Scotland before. I’ve watched them at Old Trafford a lot. It should be great. It’s pre-season so it will be mixed teams, but I’m very excited. Hamish [Watson] is a big Man United fan so he’s coming too – there are about 10 of us going.”
As well as watching football, Redpath was more than a half-decent player, although he believes he was always better suited to rugby.
“Back in the day I was all right. I was in the West Brom academy for a while, but then I got a bit older and clumsier and liked the contact too much so had to quit it for rugby.
“I still love it and any chance I get now I do love to play. But I never would have made it. I was far too slow for that.”
