Reuben Logan has gone from minor internet sensation to causing a stir in the world of rugby.
The youngster gained online notoriety last year for being compared to Gary Barlow's tall son, Daniel. However Reuben actually stands 6ft 5in, three inches taller than Barlow Jnr, and weighs in at 18st 1lb.
While many fixated over his size, he has really been turning heads on rugby's international stage. Logan is the son of new Match of the Day host and sports broadcaster Gabby Logan and Scotland rugby legend Kenny.
The youngster caused waves recently when he decided to appear for Scotland in the U20s Six Nations after having previously represented England. Having now elected for the dark blue, the Northampton Saints star revealed his decision to switch allegiances made his dad, who previously felt he had to mask his true feelings, proud.
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“Yeah, he's pretty happy, I think,” the 19-year-old said. “I think he pretended when I was with England that he was happy with it, but he really wasn't, and he's made that very clear now. He struggled with it, and I think he's [now] very, very happy. He's excited.”
On his mum's response he added: “I think she was just as emotional as my dad, because, obviously, she's seen my dad wear that shirt. I sent her the media photos and she got quite emotional seeing them, because my dad used to wear the same thistle.”
Reuben's skills with the rugby ball were evident from an early age. The young star, who also has a twin sister Lois, represented Wasps as a junior before signing his professional contract with Northampton Saints ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Yet his parent's mixed heritage was always going to cause an issue for his international ambitions. His mum, Gabby, was born in Yorkshire during the period when her father, Welsh football great Terry Yorath, was playing for Leeds United. However she elected to represent Wales in rhythmic gymnastics.
His dad, Kenny, represents the Scots in the family, while Reuben himself was born in England. Reuben actually trained with Scotland at under-17 level but then played for England at an under-18s Six Nations Festival and progressed to the England U-20 squad, before switching back.
While his dad may have had to put on a brave face during his England days, upon Reuben signing his first professional contract, he told Planet Rugby: "I just want Reuben to enjoy his journey. He's got a great opportunity at a fantastic club, and rugby is a wonderful sport to be part of."
However, the seeds for Reuben's defection may have been in the offing for some time. The first hint that he might be ready to switch sides came at the Euros last year when TV cameras spotted him and Kenny sitting together wearing Scotland football kits for the Tartan Army's game against Hungary in Stuttgart.
“We'd got the top, and I was like, ‘wouldn't it be fun if I was on the telly?’ I wonder if I'd get any flak for that,” Reuben said. “And then at half-time, I looked at my phone and it was going ‘ping, ping, ping, ping, ping’ and that was just quite funny."
So far Reuben's campaign in the U20 tournament has not gone exactly to plan. The Scots are yet to win a game and were trounced by Rueben's former team-mates, England 57-13 last week. Up next is a game against another country he has ties to, Wales, with the game getting underway on Friday, March 7 at 7.15pm.
