Rob Buchanan’s domestic season may be over, but there is no chance of the Harlequins hooker “wasting away” as he takes his place in the England squad for the Barbarians clash on Sunday.
The 22-year-old will make his senior debut for his country if he steps on to the Twickenham pitch, and there could be more to come when Stuart Lancaster’s squad tour Argentina at the beginning of June.
Buchanan would have been playing at Twickenham on Saturday in the Aviva Premiership final, but for defeat in the semi-final against Leicester on May 11.
However, the former U16, U18 and U20 international is using his England call-up to move on from the disappointment of Quins losing their Premiership crown.
“It was strange finishing straight after the semi-final because we thought, if we can beat Leicester, we’ve got another two weeks of rugby until the end of the season but, after the game, that was it – done,” he said.
Not this time: Rob Buchanan, as well as team-mate Joe Marler, suffered the disappointment of the Aviva Premiership play-off defeat at Leicester Picture: Alex Hannam
“So to be with England a week later was a good thing, otherwise I’d be wasting away somewhere.
“It’s a proud moment for me. When I was at school I used to say I’d love to play for England, but it’s still quite surreal being here and being involved.
“It does get you going, but you can’t let it get into your head too much. You’ve got to try and remember that it’s a game of rugby.”
Quins team-mates Joe Marler and Mike Brown have also been selected and they have told Buchanan not to let the moment pass him by, something he is all too wary about after the abrupt end to the domestic season.
He said: “As Stuart Lancaster has put it ‘You’ve got to step up massively by another 10 per cent’ and I intend to do that.
“Now I’ve just got to take my opportunities. I can learn massively off Rob Webber and David Paice because they’ve both got caps and know what they’re doing.
“If I get any game time I’ll be chuffed and hopefully I’ll enjoy it.
“I like to get my hands on the ball and I think it is my ball carrying that has caught the eye.
“But then my set pieces have also improved and that’s the main job of the hooker – throwing in and scrums – so those are getting better too.”
The tour to South America will not be the first time Buchanan has played on the other side of the Atlantic, having toured Argentina with the U20s and experienced the hostile atmosphere of the partisan home support.
However, there are more pressing issues at hand than dealing with opposition support because the former academy player knows he still has a long way to go.
He said: “People ask me how I am going to cement a place in the England team, and I have to tell them that I am yet to cement my place in the Quins team.
Competition: Joe Gray is the man Rob Buchanan is chasing down for a regular starting place in the Harlequins line-up SP75126
“Joe Gray’s a great player, and he is playing so well that he’s obviously hard to move right now, so getting more first team action is the main thing.
“However, spending more time with the England squad is not a bad thing.”
England face the Barbarians on Sunday at Twickenham (1pm), before heading to Argentina for a friendly against a Consur XV, and two games against the hosts on June 8 and June 15.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here