Sandbach RUFC’s former player and Mini Junior graduate Ewan Ashman debuts for Scotland

It was the stuff of dreams for former Sandbach RUFC player Ewan Ashman, who made an impressive debut in Scotland’s 15 v 13 victory over Australia at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The 21-year-old’s maturity was astonishing, after he made the bench late in the week and being called into action after just ten minutes, when starting hooker George Turner left the field with damaged ribs. He then capped it off with a crucial score in the corner, as he twisted in mid-air while being driven into touch, for a stunning acrobatic try. Else where his lineout work was almost faultless, a tribute to the work done down at Sandbach and in particular the assistance received from their former head coach and England hooker Rob Webber.

Ewan only made his Premiership debut for Sale Sharks last summer, in their 31 v 40 win at Welford Road, against Leicester Tigers, having come through the ranks at Bradwall Road. Ewan starting his rugby in the Club’s Under 8’s and represented Cheshire and Scotland at various age group levels. The hooker made his debut for the Sandbach 1^st XV, three years ago. Last season Ewan again excelled for Scotland, who he qualifies for through his father, when he was the top try scorer, in the Under 20’s Six Nations Tournament.

Ewan joins a number of players from the club over the past 20 years who have gone on to become topflight performers, with Will Cliff still going strong with him at Sale Sharks. Whilst former Bach man James Gaskell is now in his seventh year at Wasps, having set the record, when becoming the youngest captain in the Sale Sharks history, and that of the Premiership at 20 years and 106 days old.

Sandbach School can also take much credit for these players development, all of which attended there and Sandbach hope this pipeline of talent continues to produce, as last Saturday’s game proved, with nine of the 1^st XV starting players being under the age of 24.