Reuben Logan: "Interesting conversation with Dad"
22 February 2024
Featured
The Calcutta Cup divides two great rugby nations and this weekend it will do the same to one very proud rugby family.
Reuben Logan has a famous surname but he has chosen a different path to his father Kenny, who won 70 caps for Scotland.
Logan junior trained with Scotland at Under-17s level but wore the rose during last year’s Under-18s Six Nations Festival and is a member of England’s wider squad for the ongoing Under-20s campaign.
His father achieved legendary status at Wasps and while their demise prompted a move to Northampton Saints, choosing a different international path was a more arduous decision.
“It was an interesting conversation,” said Logan, recalling the moment he informed his dad of his choice.
“He realised I’ve got to do what's best for me. He was a bit hurt at the start, but I explained that it was not his career anymore and he said fair play.
“He's been really supportive, really helpful. He used to drive me up and down to Northampton, to Henley, and to England camps, so he's been really helpful in my development.”
There was a third option, courtesy of mum and television icon Gabby, who represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games, but the 18-year-old was encouraged to come to his own conclusions.
“I didn't really know when I was younger,” said Logan, who attended school and lives in the south-east of England. “When I got older, I realised that was the avenue I wanted to go down.
“Dad said do what's best for you, which I really appreciated.
“They both want me to play well and play good rugby, so whatever crest is on my shirt, hopefully they'll be proud of me.”
Congratulations to Reuben Logan ✍️
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 10, 2023
The young prospect celebrates a new deal at @SaintsRugby with parents @GabbyLogan and @KennyLogan.#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/jF6Uul9Hfr
Naturally, Logan had a ball in his hand from day one and would later inform his dad of his ambition to follow in his path.
“I always wanted to be an astronaut too, so take that with a pinch of salt,” he said.
“I said to him when I was really young, I want to be a rugby player, and he said, 'Okay, I’ll push you,' and that's what I wanted.”
Barring disagreements when his dad would occasionally referee youth matches, the pair have successfully navigated a potentially troublesome dynamic.
“He's heavily involved but I like that because sometimes I need a different avenue of advice other than a coach,” said Logan.
“Sometimes they like to give all positive or all negative, but my dad gives me the best of both worlds. He can tell what's true and what's not, and it’s very helpful to get a different perspective.
“He's obviously not got a coaching brain, he’s got a player’s brain. Of the hour and a half car journey back from a game, I get about an hour and 10 from him, so it's good fun. I enjoy it.”
Along with England Under-20s man of the moment Henry Pollock, Logan is hoping to carve a career in the back row for Saints and the national side having made the switch from wing not too long ago.
He was initially sceptical of the role change but it did at least offer a natural end to direct comparisons to his free-scoring father.
“What I like about playing in a different position now is that he can help me out with some bits, but he doesn’t tell me how to do a line out, which is quite nice,” said Logan.
“When I was 16 I was quick but the size of an 18-year-old winger and we had so many good wingers that Wasps said I think your best position is six or No.8.
“Honestly, I was fuming when they first suggested it, I found it quite insulting because I thought I was a pretty winger, and I was wrong.
“I played one game at six and fell in love with it, so I've tried to transition ever since.
“Sometimes I think I’m a wing in my head and try to do things but when they don’t pan out, I look like a muppet.”
Logan is in his first year at Under-20s level and so has had to bide his time in his pursuit of a cap, with table-toppers England having settled on a winning formula ahead of a trip to winless Scotland in round three.
Mark Mapletoft's side have conceded just two tries in bonus-point wins over Italy and Wales, and Logan believes it's that defensive effort which is laying the foundations for their Grand Slam charge.
“We’ve got such a strong and talented bunch,” he said. “Conor O’Shea (RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby) came in and had a chat with us and said this is a really talented group of boys, stick at it and don’t go away.
“Haydn (Thomas, who is also a coach at Exeter Chiefs) is our D coach and he's really passionate about defence. If we can get that defence right, I think we’re an incredibly good side.”
And whether he plays against Scotland this weekend or not, Logan knows it's an inevitable step in his quest to step out of his father’s shadow.
“I’ve always said I want you to be my dad, not that I’m your son," he added.
“I’m not saying I want to get past my parents because they’ve both done amazing things, but the aim is to be a better rugby player than my dad because he was a really good international.
“If I do that, I’ll be pretty happy with myself.”
