Brendan McKibbin© (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Scotland-born scrum-half Brendan McKibbin is hoping his move to the Aviva Premiership with London Irish can help him realise his international ambitions.

McKibbin, 29, will join Exiles from the New South Wales Waratahs ahead of next season having agreed a move to the Madejski Stadium back in January.

With the Waratahs still involved in the Super Rugby semi-finals, the No.9 - who has spent much of the last two years playing second fiddle to Australia international Nick Phipps at club level - still has a lot to play for in Sydney.

But having had a taste of the Test arena when a non-playing replacement for the Wallabies against Wales in 2012, McKibbin has admitted he would relish the opportunity to play for the land of his birth.

"I think that's a given," the scrum-half said when asked whether he would like to play for Scotland.

"(But) I haven't thought about it, I'm solely focused on the Waratahs and Waratahs rugby."

McKibbin spent the first three years of his life in Scotland before moving to Australia with his family.

He always intended to play for the Wallabies, and almost saw that dream realised as he was included in the matchday squad for a game against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on December 1, 2012.

That he wasn't called upon during the match by Robbie Deans could end up benefitting Scotland, although with Greig Laidlaw, Chris Cusiter, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Henry Pyrgos ahead of him, he could be forced to wait for his chance.

And while he has been forced to b patient with the Waratahs, McKibbin came on during last season's Super Rugby final success and proved his quality last week as he scored his side's third try of a 31-5 victory over the Queensland Reds.

"It's pretty good to get over the line but I was just doing my job," he said. "If I wasn't there, there would have been questions asked."