The prop is weighing up his options as he targets a return to international rugby

Sebastian is open to switching allegiances to Wales(Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

Scotland international Javan Sebastian is open to switching allegiance to Wales ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.

The tighthead prop, who left Edinburgh at the end of last season to join Cardiff, has 10 caps for Scotland after qualifying through his father. However, Sebastian has not played international rugby since July 2024 and missed out on a recall for this year’s Six Nations after being left out of Gregor Townsend’s squad, leading him to weigh up his options as he targets a Test return.

With his last appearance for Scotland coming in July 2024, the 31-year-old will become eligible for Welsh selection shortly before the 2027 Rugby World Cup, so long as he is not capped again by Townsend in that time.

JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more

Raised in Carmarthen, Sebastian came through the Scarlets academy and represented Wales at U16s and U18s level before joining signing a one-year contract with Glasgow in 2015. He returned to Wales the following year and broke into the Scarlets team, earning a Scotland call-up during his time in Llanelli.

He joined Edinburgh in 2023, but an injury-hit campaign last season led to him not being offered a new contract in the Scottish capital and he joined Cardiff ahead of the current season.

While he is enjoying life back in Wales, Sebastian – who also qualifies for England, having been born in Suffolk – believes he still has plenty to offer on the international stage and is targeting a return to Test rugby.

Admitting that he would class himself as Welsh, the prop says he is open to switching his official allegiances to make that happen.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

“My ambition is still to play international rugby. It doesn’t matter if it’s for Wales or Scotland. Both places mean a lot to me,” he told RugbyPass. “If you ask any pro rugby player, international rugby is the next step up.

“I haven’t been in the Scotland environment in a while now. If they didn’t come in again and Wales did come calling, I think I would jump on it 100 per cent.

“In my heart, I am Welsh. I have always said it. There is part of me that is Scottish, but for me, growing up in Wales, playing all my age-grade for Wales, I would class myself as Welsh.”

Sebastian’s admission comes after he was left out of Townsend’s Six Nations squad, a snub that led him to call the Scotland head coach to ask where he stood.

“I thought I was playing some of my best rugby,” said the front-rower, who has scored four tries in 14 appearances for Cardiff so far this season. “I have been playing well and I’ve scored a few tries. I thought I might be in with a chance of getting a call.

“But I never got that call, so I took it upon myself to phone Gregor and I asked ‘What’s the craic? Am I anywhere near?’

“He just basically told me they were keeping an eye on my game and we think you are going really well, but this is what we have gone with for this campaign and I was like ‘OK’. That was it pretty much.”

Asked what he would do if both Scotland and Wales came calling next year, Sebastian said: “That’s where you’ve got a headache. It would be a hard decision and I am not sure what I would do.

“It would be a tough, tough choice because Scotland gave me the pathway to international rugby. But then, as I say, I do consider myself Welsh.”

Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.