Humpty Doo’s Calum Gahan could become the second Territorian rugby league player to represent Scotland at international level

A Territory footy product could make his international debut at the Rugby League World Cup after making the big move to the UK.

A young rugby league star from Humpty Doo could become the second Territorian to represent Scotland at international level this weekend.

Calum Gahan, 25, is in the national squad for the World Cup in England and could follow in the footsteps of NRL NT pathways manager Duncan MacGillivray who played for Scotland at the 2008 World Cup.

Gahan, the son of Scottish-born mother Gill Thomson, played in a warm up game recently against England Knights, the nation’s reserves team, in Edinburgh before Scotland faces Italy on Sunday in its opening match.

Calum Gahan with national coach Nathan Graham. Picture: Scottish Rugby.

In fact, Gahan’s talents had been alerted to the national coach Nathan Graham by an email from MacGillivray last year.

It comes after the hooker made the big move from Queensland to the UK earlier this year, eventually signing with the London Broncos in the RFL Championship.

Proud mother Gill, who migrated to Australia in the late 1980s before meeting her husband Lawrie in Queensland, said the switch had given her son a fresh start.

Calum Gahan with his mother Gill. Picture: Calum Gahan.

“I think he was looking for a bit of a change,” Thomson said of her son’s move.

“He has spoken to Scotland on and off over the years.

“It’s quite a big squad but we’re hoping he’s going to play against Italy this weekend.”

She said contact with her son had been limited to texts of late with him deep into tournament preparations.

“We text each other and he’s in good spirits,” she said.

“He was really happy (to be picked).”

Gahan playing for the North Queensland Cowboys Under 20s team in 2017. Picture: Zak Simmonds.

Born and raised in Darwin, Thomson said her son initially started off playing cricket at Southern Districts before his teenage years.

“He started with cricket, but I think standing around so much didn’t suit Calum,” she said.

“It was maybe a bit slow for him.”

He then turned his attention to league, playing locally with Litchfield Bears before moving to Townsville in 2014 to attend Kirwan State High School, noted for its quality league programs.

Gahan would help the school win its first GIO Schoolboy Cup in 2015, with an “inspirational” performance according to the school’s head of rugby league David Ackers.

Calum Gahan with his parents Lawrie and Gill. Picture: Calum Gahan Facebook.

After representing the North Queensland Cowboys’ Under 20s team, he would join the North Devils before a move to the UK.