Spedding overcome by French call-up
An emotional Scott Spedding thanked his parents and in particular his father for making the sacrifices that has seen him earn his first call-up by his adopted country France for the November Tests.
The 28-year-old South African-born fullback, who replaces the injured Brice Dulin in the squad for the games against Fiji, Australia and Argentina, burst into tears when he reflected on his family's role in getting him this far.
"My first thought was for my family. I am thinking about my father in particular," said Spedding.
"My father was always there for me. This is thanks to them [parents] because they made huge sacrifices for me. This is an unbelievable moment."
Spedding, who played for South African at the Under-21 World Championship in 2006, was schooled at St John's College in Johannesburg and also played for the Sharks – before he headed to France where he played for Brive from 2008 to 2012 and then joined Bayonne.
On September 28 this year he confirmed on Twitter that he had acquired French citizenship.
Spedding, who could well start against Fiji next weekend as his main rival for the position Maxime Medard is also struggling to be fit having suffered a groin injury in Toulouse's Top 14 win over Lyon on Saturday, said it was a dream he had held ever since he came to France in 2008.
"It is a very emotional moment for me," said Spedding.
"It has been a long road to arrive at this. It is a huge moment in my life.
"It was always a dream for me but I never thought it would happen.
"I hope it is just the beginning."
Spedding said there had been times when he had despaired of ever being selected.
"Each time a squad was announced since 2011 when I was eligible for selection and I wasn't in it I lost hope, although I kept the dream alive in a small locker in my head," he said.
"I was seeing the years advance, even if I still have a few ahead of me in terms of playing. Patrice Lagisquet [one of the French coaches and nicknamed the 'Bayonne Express' in his playing days as a quicksilver wing] simply told me he had a plane ticket for me.
"I already know the 'Marseillaise' [the French national anthem] I am French."
Source: AFP
