Scottish squash star's brave call to switch from blue to Green and Gold

Greg Lobban, a 33-year-old Scottish squash player, has made the significant decision to represent Australia internationally. This move, driven by family considerations and aspirations for the 2028 Olympics, marks a new chapter for the athlete. Lobban admitted the switch was emotionally challenging, having identified as a Scottish player for a long time. "Playing with Scotland's kind of been my identity as a squash player for a long time, so that aspect of it was tough," he told ABC Sport. "That's what I've struggled with most in the decision over the last sort of four months on tour, balancing that mentally."

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Playing with Scotland's kind of been my identity as a squash player for a long time, so that aspect of it was tough. That's what I've struggled with most in the decision over the last sort of four months on tour, balancing that mentally.

However, the desire to pursue Australian citizenship and eventually move to the country with his wife, Donna Lobban, née Urquhart, a former Australian international player, ultimately guided his choice. "But with the family reasons… I was always going to go down the path of citizenship eventually because we would be moving here after my squash career was finished," Lobban explained. "So in that aspect, it's not really been that tough."

His wife's Australian heritage and their young son were central to the decision. The couple, who have played against each other in major tournaments, including the 2022 Commonwealth Games, shared a lighthearted perspective on their competitive past. "The only saving grace was that we were on opposite sides [of the court], so we didn't actually come into contact too often," Lobban said. "But if we were on the same side, honestly, I think the marriage would have been over before it started."

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But with the family reasons … I was always going to go down the path of citizenship eventually because we would be moving here after my squash career was finished. So in that aspect, it's not really been that tough.

With his switch, Lobban instantly becomes the highest-ranked Australian player on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tour, currently sitting at world No. 28. This elevation is crucial for his Olympic qualification hopes, as spots for the 2028 Games are limited.

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The only saving grace was that we were on opposite sides [of the court], so we didn't actually come into contact too often. But if we were on the same side, honestly, I think the marriage would have been over before it started.