As the son of a Scottish rugby great, George Stanger had the sporting genes to embrace the game that made his old man famous.
But Ayr's new signing admits football is the arena for him - and now he aims to become a towering presence for the Honest Men.
Stanger, the son of Murrayfield legend Tony, grew up watching one of Scotland's all-time top try scorers etching himself into the national sporting conversation.
But when the time came for Stanger Jnr to forge his path, he insists it was a game of a different kind that was always likely to capture his imagination.
He told the Ayrshire Post: "I played rugby and football as a kid and was probably more serious with the rugby in those early years. I tried to do both but when they started to clash, I had to make the decision about which one to pursue.
"I then signed with Dundee United at the age of 11 and that was when I really had to make the call to go with football. I think had I stayed with rugby, my old man would have liked to see me out on the wing like him!"
Stanger today agreed a two-year deal to become United's second signing of the summer after making the switch from Alloa, who missed out in the play-offs for promotion to the Championship.
The former Stirling Uni and Hamilton centre back is well known to Ayr's head of recruitment, Keith Glendinning, who also played a key role in taking him to Accies.
Stanger, 22, said: "I seem to have followed Keith around a bit as he was involved in my signing for Hamilton and had a fair say in me going there, so it's nice that he's here at Ayr now.
"Alloa was a great club for me with great people and it's one of the best changing rooms I've been involved in. The key thing for me was getting regular games and challenging at the right end of the table.
"It didn't end the way we would have wanted but that's football and I learned a lot from last season, getting back to loving my football and I can't thank them enough for their help in my development.
"When I met up with the gaffer here it was clear the level of interest that Ayr had in me and that's massive for any player. This is a great club that's just off the back of a very successful season and when I knew the extent of their interest I was very excited to come and be part of it.
"The team on the park is one thing but when you see the progress being made elsewhere here that also plays an important part. I've got a few mates who live down here who go to the games and I know how much the team means to people in Ayr - it's a great club that is going places."
