OF the dozen players capped by Scotland over the Autumn Nations Series, perhaps none was quite so exhilarated as Javan Sebastian, who made his debut off the bench against Japan. It had, after all, been a pretty special time for the Scarlets tighthead, whose partner had given birth earlier in the week, just a day before he learned he was in the matchday 23 for Saturday’s match.

“It’s been an amazing week,” the former Ayr and Glasgow Warriors forward said after the match. “My partner was pregnant and told me to come [to the Scotland camp]. Two weeks ago she started [contractions], I went back to see her and see how things progressed, and then we made the decision together that I would come back into camp last week and I’d just concentrate to get a place in the squad for this game. And then she went into hospital on Tuesday and we got a son on Wednesday.”

The bad news for Sebastian’s partner Kaylee, new son Marcellus and the rest of the family is that the prop is due to absent himself again tomorrow, on URC duty with Scarlets this time. “As soon as we go to Wales, we fly to South Africa on Tuesday, which my partner won’t be too pleased about - going from one camp into another one,” he added.

Sebastian knows he may need a decent run of games at club level to come into contention for a place in Scotland’s Six Nations squad. But, having initially been called up by Scotland as a result of some impressive performances for Scarlets at the tail-end of last season, he appears increasingly confident of being able to challenge at international level.

“I touched base with Gregor just before the summer tour,” the 27-year-old continued, referring to Scotland’s three scheduled games that in the end were cancelled because of Covid issues. “He called me out of the blue. I had no idea he had been looking at me, so it was a massive surprise. 

“He said he’d been looking into the games I’d been playing back at my club and he was impressed with what I’d been doing. It was great that he was watching me.

“Previously I didn't see myself playing international rugby this year. I only came on the scene for Scarlets last year and got a string of games, so to come into the international squad is a massive step up and I’m going to push on from here. I'm really enjoying it.”