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Javan Sebastian admitted to being \u201ca bit overwhelmed\u201d about the prospect of making his first start for Scotland at a World Cup after bouncing back from a \u201cdark\u201d spell working as a butcher when he feared his professional rugby career was over.<\/p>\n
After failing to earn a contract in 2016, the Wales-born prop had to drop into the semi-pro ranks and got a job as a butcher in Carmarthen to make ends meet.<\/p>\n
At that point, resigned to the likelihood that it was not to be for him at the top end of the game, Sebastian could never have envisaged he go on to represent Scotland \u2013 the nation of his father\u2019s birth \u2013 at a World Cup in France.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a bit overwhelmed when Gregor told me I was going to be starting tight-head,\u201d said Sebastian, reflecting on the fact that \u2013 after six appearances for Scotland as a substitute \u2013 he will make his first start in Saturday\u2019s World Cup Pool B match against Romania in Lille.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was quite surprised to even be selected in the World Cup squad. It\u2019s a massive achievement to be selected in any squad, so to get a starting place is pretty surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n
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After struggling to break through at Scarlets and then having an unfulfilling loan stint at Glasgow, Sebastian dropped out of the professional game aged 22 to become a butcher while playing part-time for Carmarthen Quins.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a dark time,\u201d he recalled, speaking from the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille on the eve of his World Cup bow. \u201cIt was after I left Glasgow, having been there for a year. I went back home (to Wales) to have my first-born.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took a year out of rugby and didn\u2019t really end up having a job so I applied to be a butcher and play semi-pro.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked in the butcher\u2019s for about two months. I couldn\u2019t hack it any longer than that. It was dark, not a nice place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought my professional rugby career was pretty much over, so I took a year out to reflect and get back to normal life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt made me open my eyes to what I could potentially do. Being a butcher or any other normal job is quite tough. I\u2019m not saying that being a rugby player isn\u2019t tough, but the real world is scary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI discovered normal life wasn\u2019t for me, so I thought I would try to play rugby again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sebastian was cajoled in that regard by his coaches at Carmarthen who felt he was too good to be playing at such a lowly level and helped him earn a second chance with Scarlets in 2017. He became a prominent figure at the Parc y Scarlets until joining Edinburgh this summer on a two-year deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying semi-pro in Wales was pretty dark,\u201d he said. \u201cYou go to places like Neath, Cross Keys away, when it\u2019s raining and it\u2019s seven o\u2019clock at night and the pitches are deep in mud. It\u2019s not a nice place to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coaches at the time were Craig Evans and Richard Kelly. They really pushed me on to try and go for more than what I was doing at that time. Richard was also a coach at Scarlets, so he really pushed me to get back in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sebastian \u2013 effectively Scotland\u2019s third-choice tighthead \u2013 feels his move to Edinburgh can help him progress further.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just another step on the journey where I want to project on to the next level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEdinburgh have a strong pack, so trying to play some expansive rugby within that pack will benefit me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scotland srum coach Pieter de Villiers was full of praise for the way Sebastian has forced his way into contention for his first international start in a match Scotland must win with a bonus point to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-final.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a well-deserved start,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s had a great preparation period and is very well respected within the group.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIn terms of the set-piece, I think he\u2019s one of the best scrummaging tightheads out there. You can ask any front-row player, they\u2019ll always back Javan to pack down in a scrum.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying at Edinburgh next season, it\u2019ll be good for him to develop alongside his international team-mates. It\u2019ll be good to have him closer to home and to see him grow.\u201d<\/p>\n