Full-back to the future for Jacko in second stint at Scotstoun

Law firm makes a stand...

BORN-AGAIN Glasgow Warrior Ruaridh Jackson is going back to the future in a bid to bring silverware to Scotstoun this season.

The 29-year-old Scotland star returned to the north of the city in the summer as part of new coach Dave Rennie’s revamped squad.

And he’s ready to put down a marker by swapping his traditional fly-half berth for full-back – the position he started in as a teenager playing for Scotland.

He was wearing 15 when he made his first Under-20s start, and also when he made his first professional start, starring for Scotland A against Georgia two months before earning a spot in his club run-on XV.

Now it looks as though that is where his immediate future lies after he featured i n that position during pre-season games and where he started the Guinness PRO14 opener against Connacht.

His performance demonstrated his versatility by moving forwards after a run of backline injures during the game.

Jackson is mature enough to take it all in his stride, reflecting that after three seasons of total frustration in England, first with Wasps and then Harlequins, he is happy just to be playing at all after just 15 starts and 18 bench cameos since heading south in 2014.

“At the moment it’s just full back but I’ve done a few reps at 10 as well,” he admitted as he prepared for his return to playing at Scotstoun tomorrow.

“I’ve got used to both roles, but at the minute it’s more dominant towards the fullback side.

“In games – yeah, I have that ability to have a two-sided attack that Dave [Rennie, the head coach] likes. To have that ability will help.

“It also means you get the ball in your hands more, although there wasn’t much of that last week.

“I hope we’ll get the chance to do that a bit more in better conditions this weekend – have two sides in attack so defences have to keep guessing.

“That’s a good thing and something I can hopefully bring to the team.”

The fact is that though Jackson has had his brilliant games at fly half, he has never had the consistency or game management needed to keep that role.

At the same time, Glasgow need somebody who can slot in when Stuart Hogg is unavailable, as he is at the moment, and provide a threat as both a runner and distributor.

IN THE meantime they have more than enough cover at fly half with Finn Russell back this week while Peter Horne and Adam Hastings shared the duties while he was finishing his summer break.

“Versatility is a great string to LEADING Scottish law firm Harper Macleod has extended its commercial deal with Glasgow Warriors, after agreeing to sponsor the West Stand at Scotstoun.

The deal will see the stand renamed as the Harper Macleod West Stand for the inaugural Guinness PRO14 campaign

Glasgow Warriors Managing Director Nathan Bombrys said: “We are thrilled that Harper Macleod has chosen to expand its association with the club by becoming a stand sponsor.

“It says a lot for what we represent that such a prestigious firm - and an existing, valued member of our sponsor family – is prepared to share our ambitions in this way.

“Harper Macleod has been an enthusiastic, active supporter of the club and we’re proud to have them as such a visible part of the Warriors’ identity.” have to your bow,” Jackson reflected. “To have the likes of myself, Horney [Peter Horne], Jonesy [Lee Jones] who can switch around, shows the versatility of the squad.

“That’s a great thing to have. We should be able to adapt and keep going i n the right direction.

“The physicality of games now means there’s gone to be injuries and switching around.

“It’s something you don’t necessarily train for, but there are occasions when there’s guys out with injuries, and you have to jump in at centre or the wing.

“You think at the time ‘what am I doing’ but later on, it can stand you in good stead if the situation does arrive on the field.”