Mark Calderwood was relieved after being selected in England's World Cup squad.
Winger included by England after spurning Scotland
Wigan winger Mark Calderwood was relieved after his World Cup gamble paid off.
The 26-year-old was originally called up by Scotland, courtesy of his Scottish grandparents, but turned his back on Steve McCormack's men when offered a place in England's initial train-on squad.
And that decision paid off when he was named in coach Tony Smith's final 24-man England squad for the global showpiece Down Under.
"I could have ended up with egg on my face," admitted Calderwood, who is leaving the JJB Stadium to join Hull FC next season.
"I think I was guaranteed to play for Scotland so I did gamble and obviously it's paid off.
"When Tony said I was under consideration, I gave up my Scotland place. Tony said he couldn't guarantee anything and I could have not been picked for either.
"I would have been proud to play for Scotland but playing for England is a different level."
Fox overlooked
Calderwood, who played for England in the second-tier Federation Shield in 2006, got the nod ahead of his former Leeds academy team-mate Peter Fox, the Hull KR winger who made a try scoring debut in the mid-season international against France.
"I'm a bit gutted that some of my mates didn't get picked but that's the way it goes," he added.
"Everyone knows what Peter Fox can do. I'm good mates with him. He's only young and I'm sure he's got a good future down the line.
"He's come on in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years and I'm very disappointed for him but that's why I'm in."
Calderwood does not expect to be a first choice for England's opening match against Papua New Guinea in Townsville on October 25.
"I'll probably be behind Lee Smith with the way he played on Saturday," he said.
His selection for the World Cup has capped off a roller-coaster of a season for Calderwood, who was told two months ago that his contract with Wigan would not be renewed.
But he landed a two-year deal with Hull FC and that provided him with extra motivation and gave him a new lease of life, culminating with a superb display for Wigan in the final eliminator against his old Leeds team-mates.
Adversity
"It's not been the best year for myself," he said.
"I was in and out of the Wigan team. But the last six weeks I've dug in and that's obviously why I've been picked.
"I didn't know if I was staying or going but when it came out that I was going to Hull, that took a weight off my shoulders and kicked on from that.
"It's obviously not nice when they say they're not going to keep you but I've moved on now.
"I had some people to prove wrong. I tried to do that in the last game I played and I will be trying to do that in Australia."
