ALAN TAIT will become the first former rugby league star to play for Scotland when he faces Ireland in the Five Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Newcastle player wins his ninth cap nine years after collecting his last, his selection following hard on the heels of his inclusion in the provisional Lions squad of 62 for the summer tour of South Africa.
But captain Rob Wainwright is anxious that Tait does not get buried beneath the burden of Scottish expectation. Tait's experience in league will be important to us he said, but we're not looking for some Messiah," he said.
Tait returned to union with Newcastle this season, ending a league career which saw him capped 14 times by Great Britain during spells with Widnes and Leeds.
Backs coach David Johnston is optimistic that Tait can lift the Scots following their defeats by Wales and England.
Tait, who won his eight previous caps between 1987 and 1988 has been selected at centre where he will form a new partnership with the talented Gregor Townsend.
Townsend switches from out-half to inside centre, the position he occupied against Wales and Italy. Craig Chalmers regains the number 10 jersey after being dropped for the England game, and the other change in the backs is at right wing, where Tony Stanger returns in place of Derek Stark, after playing centre at Twickenham.
Despite their poor showing against England, the forwards are retained, although there has been a positional switch in the back row which sees skipper Rob Wainwright and Peter Walton switch positions.
