'You’re a f***ing turncoat but I’m proud of you': It's the Calcutta Cup in one family as England's Gary Graham and ex-Scottish prop Dad set up big clash

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‘You’re bringing nae f***ing England kit in this house!’ blasts George Graham in his thick Scottish accent.

‘Why?’ quips his son Gary. ‘Are you worried mam will take your Scotland shirt down?’

Twisting his hand towards his heart in a dagger motion, Graham Sr takes a moment to reflect on his middle-born’s call-up by Eddie Jones. 

He gazes at the kilted-family photo on the living room wall in Carlisle, before offering a more measured response.

‘What is it they say? They never built Hadrian’s Wall tall enough! You’re a f***ing turncoat but I’m proud of you.’

It's the Calcutta Cup in one family for England's Gary Graham and his ex-Scottish prop Dad

Between 1997 and 2002, Graham Sr won 25 Scotland caps as a loose-head prop. His stairway is decked with his navy-blue caps — as well as a match-worn shirt from old rival Jason Leonard.

Now the retired front-row forward works at a timber logging yard. Rather than follow in his father’s footsteps, Graham has pledged his allegiance to England. He was a travelling reserve against Italy but the flanker’s Six Nations has been hindered by a neck injury.

‘I’ve had an injection and I just need to see how quickly it settles,’ says Gary ahead of Saturday’s trip to Murrayfield.

‘I’d f***ing love to play against Scotland next week, make 1,000 tackles and shove it in their face — but it might have to wait until next year.’

Growing up on a council estate in the north of England, Graham was rejected by the Scottish academy system.

Instead of joining his father at the local timber merchants, he trained as an electrician and played amateur rugby for Galashiels. Jersey Reds offered his professional break in the Championship in 2015 before his career took off after signing for Newcastle last summer.

‘I joined Jersey for £18,000 a year and I was on my a**e because you pay £500 a month for a room,’ he says. ‘And then you need to pay for a car and the only shop for your veg is a Waitrose.

‘My career had plateaued while these guys I’d played with for Scotland Under-20s — Finn Russell, Ali Price, Stuart Hogg — had taken off and played for Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Lions.

‘My face didn’t fit... I’ve got a bit of a chip on my shoulder about it.’

Rather than follow in his father’s footsteps, Gary has pledged his allegiance to England

Listening in on the sofa, Graham’s father joins in. The 52-year-old has an intrinsic knowledge of Scottish rugby, having recently returned to coaching with Hawick RFC in the Borders.

‘Gary’s had to fight like f*** for every inch,’ says Graham Sr. ‘This is a rough part of Carlisle. A shop was petrol-bombed last week. There are drugs all over the place and a lot of fighting.

‘In the academy system most lads are picked from private schools. It’s soft. When you’re struggling to survive on the £8,500 contract, mummy and daddy will usually be there to help you out.

‘Gary’s mummy and daddy haven’t got much money. I’m glad he never got that contract. He’s got a bit of c*** in him. He’s had to do it the tough way and that’s why he is where he is.’

Younger brother Guy has also signed for Newcastle. He will be hoping for a similar rise, having watched Gary win the Premiership Player of the Month award for December despite having made only five Premiership starts for his new club.

Between 1997 and 2002, Graham Sr won 25 international Scotland caps as a loose-head prop

Graham Sr insists he is proud of his son despite jokingly calling him a 'turncoat'

Gary added: ‘When I came to Newcastle I thought I’d do well to play one Premiership game this year. Never in a million years did I think I’d be picked for England.

‘When Dean Richards called me through to the meeting room I thought, “S***, I’m getting dropped here.” He said, “What do you think about playing for England? They’ve invited you down for camp.”

‘Around the same time Gregor Townsend called me about playing for Scotland. I told him I’d be stupid not to want to play for England. England want to be No1 in the world and I’m not sure Scotland will ever be anywhere near. I’ve grown up here so, yeah, I feel more English than Scottish.’

Silence descends over the pine- panelled living room. ‘Get out of my f***ing house!’ bawls Graham Sr.

Growing up on a council estate in England, Graham was rejected by the Scottish youth system

There is no turning back. Graham is still eligible for Scotland but — still chasing his first Red Rose cap — he does not plan to switch allegiance.

As his father admits, anything less would be ‘a backwards step’ and, if Graham does not recover during the Six Nations then he will switch his focus to the summer tour of South Africa.

‘I know I’ve got a hell of a long way to go but anything less than playing for England would feel like failure now,’ adds Graham.

‘I still haven’t really done ’owt. I’ve played a handful of games so I was panicking before we met up in camp. We met in the hotel at 11am and I went over to introduce myself after catching eyes with Eddie Jones.

‘I stuck my hand out and he said, “Paul? It’s Paul, right? I thought you’d be bigger.” I was like, “Erm, nah, it’s Gary!” He instantly put me in my place. He said, “You’ve been going well, mate” and I thought, “Christ” and quickly turned on my heels. I sat down with Paul Gustard, too. They told me they want aggression and workrate. 

'I’m not particularly good at rugby but I’m a good trier. They want me to be a dog. That’s pretty much what I’m going for. I’d like to say I get that aggression from my dad but it’s definitely me mam.’

Dean Richards called Graham through to the meeting room to tell him of his England call-up

The flanker’s Six Nations has been affected by an injury but he did travel as a reserve to Italy

Graham Sr nods in agreement, despite being known as a firebrand forward.

‘Aye, you can say that again, she’s f***ing crazy!’ he quips. ‘Aggression’s a natural thing from where me and my wife come from: Raploch. It was like f***ing Beirut in the Seventies. You had to be tough.

‘If we got back in and my mother knew we’d been out fighting, she’d say, “Did you win? No? Well get back out then”.

‘That’s transferred to Gary and the boys. He’s done the right thing and I’m proud of him. It just breaks my heart to admit it.’