Gary Graham is being welcomed into the Scotland squad like any other player after reverting to the land of his birth following a brief flirtation with England.

The Newcastle Falcons flanker seemed to close the door on following his father George into the Scotland team when he accepted an invitation from Eddie Jones earlier this year to join an England training squad, then gave a newspaper interview in which he claimed that having been brought up in England that was his first choice, while also stating that he would “love to play against Scotland… make 1000 tackles and shove it in their faces,” and observing that England had serious aspirations to be the world’s best side, something Scotland could not hope to do.

Since Gregor Townsend, Scotland’s head coach, had said only last month that the ball was very much in the player’s court, yesterday’s announcement represented something of a volte face, not least by the player as it emerged that discussions between the two have been taking place for some time.

“I’m absolutely delighted to get this opportunity. I phoned Gregor to assure him I wanted to play for Scotland, and always wanted to play for my country. It’s where I’m from and where I played most of my rugby,” said the 26-year-old, who spent three years playing for Gala when George was coaching the club, before getting his break when he was approached by English Premiership side Jersey.

He also sought to explain his understandable previous decision, saying: “I’m Scottish through-and-through but England asked me first as I’m eligible through residency. It would have been a silly opportunity to pass up, as I hadn’t been selected for a Scotland squad since U20s.”

That invitation to train with England having been issued just a couple of months after Scottish Rugby officials, including Townsend, had engaged in a curiously provocative-looking exercise when meeting with English media to indicate that they would be upping their scouting operations south of the border, there looked to be a danger that Graham might have been caught up in rugby politics.

If that was the case and England coach Eddie Jones was, as many suspected, engaged in a spot of mischief making, the Scottish management’s willingness to forgive and forget suggests that they have not fallen for it. Indeed, current Scotland defence coach Matt Taylor observed yesterday that the way the younger Graham expressed himself was far from unfamiliar.

“From what people tell me I think he was trying to wind up his dad, it was a little bit tongue in cheek and what you say in interviews… when you read it in the press it sometimes doesn’t quite come out that way. I didn’t read it at the time but that’s what I’ve been told,” he said. Taylor added that he was “lucky enough to play with his dad at the Borders and he’s a very passionate Scot who will be very proud today.”

With Cameron Redpath, son of head coach Townsend’s former international half-back partner Bryan, having also been invited into an England squad earlier this year, it has become clear that the challenges confronting dual-qualified players are becoming ever more complicated in the professional era. That particularly applies to English-based players because of the incentives offered to their clubs to have as many England-qualified players as possible in their squads, as Townsend acknowledged, saying: “It has become a competitive environment for dual-qualified players recently and we know that these are not easy decisions for players.”

Graham has been called into the squad to replace Blade Thomson, the latest of Scotland’s Kiwi imports who has been ruled out of the autumn Tests after suffering a concussion playing for the Scarlets against Edinburgh earlier this month.

His inclusion was welcomed by the latest home-based player to make his mark in the back-row, Edinburgh’s Jamie Ritchie having put in a barn-storming performance against Fiji on Saturday and indicating that while Graham might have to endure some teasing about what he had to say about cross-border rivalry earlier in the year, he would be treated the same as any other newcomer.

“One thing that happens with anyone who comes into the squad, whether it be academy guys coming in to train or new guys being selected, the first meeting they are welcomed with a round of applause,” said Ritchie.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover, I’ll wait until I meet him and get a feel for him. If he’s here, he’s here for a reason. It’s easier to judge a person when you’ve met them and this will be the first time I’ve met Gary properly. I think I played against him when he was playing for Gala and I was playing for Heriot’s when I’d just joined Edinburgh. I’ve never really had a conversation with him. It will be good to get to know him. It’s another person who’s here and most likely deserves to be here if he’s been selected.”