John Barclay has confirmed he is leaving Glasgow Warriors at the end of this season.
Still only 26, the international flanker has spent nine years with the club he joined as an apprentice and has been a Scotland regular since making his Test debut during the 2007 World Cup.
A hamstring injury as he scored a Heineken Cup try in Castres in December has contributed to his absence from the Scotland squad at what is a crucial time with a British & Irish Lions tour coming up this summer. However, Barclay's form has also been affected by efforts to change his playing style.
Still described in the club's official statement released yesterday as "a classic Scottish open-side flanker", Barclay started the last three matches of Scotland's RBS 6 Nations matches last season at blindside flanker, then at No.8 in the summer Test wins over Australia and Fiji.
As the last remaining member of Glasgow's "Killer Bs" back row he will also be fully aware that his former colleagues Kelly Brown, the Scotland captain, and Johnnie Beattie, who are both in the frame for the Lions tour, have benefited hugely from seeking fresh challenges.
Allied to the competition from Ross Rennie at Test level, he was also coming under pressure for his place at club level from Chris Fusaro last season and was believed to be close to leaving then. However, his affection for the Warriors was evident yesterday. "The club has been a huge part of my life since I turned professional and I've learned a lot from the coaches and players I've worked with at Warriors," he said. "I'd like to thank everyone associated with the club for their support over the last nine years."
Richie Gray, the Scotland lock, will also be spreading his wings by moving to France next season but before then he will be battling to help his club, Sale Sharks, from dropping out of the Aviva Premiership.
That task became easier yesterday when London Welsh were deducted five points and fined £15,000 for fielding an ineligible player in the championship, thus dropping them to the bottom of the table, two points behind Sale.
Welsh intend lodging an appeal against the ruling.
John Barclay has confirmed he is leaving Glasgow Warriors at the end of this season. Still only 26, the international flanker has spent nine years with the club he joined as an apprentice and has been a Scotland regular since making his Test debut during the 2007 World Cup.
A hamstring injury as he scored a Heineken Cup try in Castres in December has contributed to his absence from the Scotland squad at what is a crucial time with a British & Irish Lions tour coming up this summer. However, Barclay's form has also been affected by efforts to change his playing style.
Still described in the club's official statement released yesterday as "a classic Scottish open-side flanker", Barclay started the last three matches of Scotland's RBS 6 Nations matches last season at blindside flanker, then at No.8 in the summer Test wins over Australia and Fiji.
As the last remaining member of Glasgow's "Killer Bs" back row he will also be fully aware that his former colleagues Kelly Brown, the Scotland captain, and Johnnie Beattie, who are both in the frame for the Lions tour, have benefited hugely from seeking fresh challenges.
Allied to the competition from Ross Rennie at Test level, he was also coming under pressure for his place at club level from Chris Fusaro last season and was believed to be close to leaving then. However, his affection for the Warriors was evident yesterday. "The club has been a huge part of my life since I turned professional and I've learned a lot from the coaches and players I've worked with at Warriors," he said. "I'd like to thank everyone associated with the club for their support over the last nine years."
Richie Gray, the Scotland lock, will also be spreading his wings by moving to France next season but before then he will be battling to help his club, Sale Sharks, from dropping out of the Aviva Premiership.
That task became easier yesterday when London Welsh were deducted five points and fined £15,000 for fielding an ineligible player in the championship, thus dropping them to the bottom of the table, two points behind Sale.
Welsh intend lodging an appeal against the ruling.
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