Angry Danny Brough lashes out after Scotland rejection as he prepares for Huddersfield Giants return

The Huddersfield Giants half-back – who returns from a three-game ban for dissent in tonight’s Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie against Wakefield Trinity – claims he was in the dark that he would not feature again.

But Hogg responded: “I think that anyone who really knows me would say that I am many things, but spineless is not one of them.”

Brough was sent home from the World Cup last November along with team-mates Sam Brooks and Jonathan Walker after being deemed too drunk to board a flight in New Zealand.

At Wednesday’s press conference to unveil Chris Chester and John Duffy as Scotland’s new joint-coaches, Hogg said all three players would not be selected moving forward.

Chester later confirmed the management decision was “out of his hands” so, given Brough is aged 35, it essentially spelled the end of the road for the country’s most-capped player.

However, when asked for his thoughts on the matter, Brough exclusively told The Yorkshire Post: “Is that what’s happened? I didn’t know that. Nobody told me.

“It’s a pretty spineless thing to do, but it’s the reason I insisted I wouldn’t retire from Scotland.”

Dewsbury-born Brough added: “I’d have liked to have carried on playing for Scotland, of course. It’s been a part of my life for 15 years, but it’s not to be and that’s disappointing.

“I wish Chris (Chester) and John (Duffy) all the best in their new roles, though, and I am really pleased for them.”

Hogg added: “I have now apologised to Danny for him not being told in advance.

“Unfortunately we are a bit down on volunteer resources at the moment and we ran out of time to tell him before the press conference to announce the appointment of John Duffy and Chris Chester. I then answered a question honestly rather than just waffle.

“Danny has provided great service and some great moments for Scotland over a very long period and that will never be forgotten.

“However, the group of people involved in the leadership of the Scotland senior team have decided that this is the right time to move on.

“The squad that Chris and John will select for the European Championships will have some new faces in it as we aim to qualify for the 2021 World Cup and respond to the changes in the number of domestic quota players – a change that we support.”