The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Seymour staying with Glasgow until 2020
RUGBY: Winger says team’s style of playing helped influence decision to extend contract
Tommy Seymour came to Glasgow as something of a project player almost a decade ago, but he’ll leave as a British Lion, one of the most prolific wings in Scottish rugby history and probably playing the rest of his career as a Warrior.
Seymour has agreed a one-year extension to his contract that will take him to the summer of 2020 when he’ll be 32 and both he and Glasgow will reassess. But the Nashville-born wing, who has 19 tries in 46 caps for Scotland, finds it hard to imagine he’ll ever play anywhere else than this club.
“I live this club,” he said. “Never did I think that it would be possible to be here as long as I have been.
“I’m incredibly fortunate and it’s an honour that they still want me around.
“At my age there’s going to be a multitude of things to think about, but I can’t pay Glasgow a higher compliment when you consider that larger array of things, this club still comes out on top.”
Seymour didn’t really even contemplate the idea of moving away from Scotstoun, his home “in far more ways than one”.
“There were none that were tempting enough to prise me away from here,” he said of other offers.
“Looking around Europe it’s hard to find a side that’s more willing to play with ball in hand, as expansively or plays with the tempo that we do.
“Being a winger it’s something you can’t help but look at and let it help your decision.
“I could compliment Glasgow as a club and a city in a whole host of ways, but the fact my family is so happy here is important, and I have made lifelong friends here as well.
“Some of them have left and some are still very much part of the club.
“I’m delighted to say I’ll be here for the next wee while at least.”
In the meantime, the Warriors are refocusing on their Heineken Champions’ Cup campaign, which has new life after successive bonus point victories away from Scotstoun, the latest being Saturday’s at Lyon.
The French club come to Scotstoun for the return fixture with their interest in the competition extinguished after three defeats culminating in the 42-22 thrashing at the Stade Gerland, but Glasgow are taking nothing for granted.
“We all have to drive that home,” he said. “We’ve talked about it today, this false idea that because it’s almost impossible for them to qualify they might do things differently.
“If anything it works to the contrary. If we take our eye off the ball and think that things are done then that’s when teams like Lyon can sting you.
“They’ve shown in the Top 14 that they are one of the French sides who play the most rugby and the most dangerous rugby. We’re fully prepared this week and we have to out-perform ourselves from last week.”
In the past Glasgow have been unable to sustain a presence in both European rugby and the PRO14, their only recent failure to make the playoffs coming when they did reach the last eight in Europe two seasons ago, but Seymour reckons depth is there now.
“I have full confidence that we can do it on two fronts,” he said.
“We didn’t do ourselves justice in the PRO14 in the year we qualified in Europe but I don’t think it’s a pick and choose scenario.
“The squad is in a great position now, with an amazing amount of depth. The past month is testament to that and how well the young guys who came in when the internationals were on have done.
“I think that’s something that started with Gregor (Townsend) in terms of the rotation, making sure the young guys felt they could slip in seamlessly and give us results.
“We’ve carried that on and I think, without getting ahead of ourselves, that we can definitely perform in both tournaments.”
Warriors and Scotland assistant coach Mike Blair said Saturday’s performance showed just why they coveted Seymour so much.
“I mean you just have to watch the game; those bits of skill down the right flank, you wouldn’t pick many people in Europe that can do that,” said Blair.
“He’s a really consistent player, someone who can do the exciting stuff, the clever stuff but also the basics of the game - chasing kicks, winning balls back and defusing the kicking game as well, they’re the stand outs in his game.”