Huddersfield Giants coach Nathan Brown has been labelled "ignorant and insulting" by Catalan Dragons hooker Ian Henderson.
Dragons hooker angered by Giants coach's comments
Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown has been labelled "ignorant and insulting" after criticising the call-up of Australia-raised player Ian Henderson by England boss Steve McNamara.
Brown, an Australian who is in his fourth season in Super League, was scathing of McNamara's decision to name the Catalan Dragons hooker in his elite training squad, especially at the expense of in-form Giants hooker Luke Robinson.
Although Henderson was born in Torquay and represented Scotland in the 2008 World Cup after qualifying through his Glasgow-born father, Brown is adamant that he should not play for England.
He said: "If something looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's a duck, isn't it? He looks Aussie and talks Aussie so I suppose he is an Aussie."
Henderson responded by saying he was disgusted by Brown's "close-minded" views.
Henderson said: "I am English. I was born in England, my mother is English and my father is Scottish. Every single member of our family, sister, brothers, cousins and extended relatives were born in Great Britain.
"I moved to Australia when I was five years old and our parents brought us up in British tradition.
Insulting
"We have always supported England. I grew up in a Liverpool shirt and wore the English strip during World Cup campaigns, which I still have today.
"My brothers and myself have all returned to England to live and play and for Nathan Brown to question my family's commitment to this country is ignorant and insulting.
"Every member of my family is disgusted by his close-minded views just because I have an Australian accent.
"I am proud of being English and my family is proud of our heritage dating back hundreds of years in this country.
"I am happy to fight for a position based on my form but no one should question my eligibility or the pride I have to be an Englishman."
