Seymour: ‘Priority now my family’

Warriors’ full-back signs for another year but ends his international career

Family life was the motivation for Tommy Seymour to call a halt to his international career and it’s also the reason he’s signed for another year with Glasgow.

The 31-year-old announced his retirement from Scotland but he’s determined to keep producing for Glasgow, even learning a new position at this advanced state of his career.

But the emotion he showed at the end of the final rugby World Cup game against Japan was an obvious clue that he had intended for some time that was going to be his swansong in a dark blue shirt.

“There was a lot of emotions for me at the end of the Japan game for various reasons – I knew that was the last time I’d pull on a Scotland shirt, for one,” he said.

“The opportunities I’ve had with the national side are some of the best experiences I’ve ever had. It really has been a dream come true and it’s given me so much.

“To know that you’re never going to experience such a wonderful thing again, it’s obviously very emotional.

“But the decision had long been made. The reasons behind it weren’t all so much to do with the actual rugby, and that’s why my mind was never going to be changed.”

Time away from his wife Katy and their two young children – his daughter was born in July, just before he was called into Scotland’s lengthy pre-RWC training camp – convinced him it was time to step back.

“Over the last few years there have been a few things going on, but most of all I have a young family now,” he said.

“A lot of guys who pull away from the international stage have the same idea – they want to be more available for their families and spend more time with them,

“I’ve loved every single minute I’ve spent in an international shirt, but my priorities now are to see as much as I possibly can of my two young children and try to be the best father and husband.

“That decision has been made for a while and I’m happy with where I lie now. If I get more months to spend with my kids then that’s something I’m really happy about.”

But this all works with his decision to stay at Glasgow for another year, finally announced yesterday. Year-to-year deals would seem to suit Seymour now, and now he has a new role at the Warriors there’s more time to work himself in.

“I’m enjoying the challenge of fullback,” he said, having switched there after the summer departure of Stuart Hogg.

“Even if everyone will agree that the man whose shoes I’m trying to fill makes it a nigh-on impossible task.

“But it is in its infancy really. I have played a few games there in the past but nothing to this degree.

“Having played a lot on the wing, getting an opportunity to move across has been enjoyable. I know there are a lot of things I need to add to my game but I’m enjoying it.

“Whatever I can do to help this club I am more than willing to do for as long as I can do it.

“The ultimate things with the extension was that I’ve been here a long time and I love this club.

“The opportunity to stay here for what will be my 10th year in a place my wife and I love, and where our two kids were born. We’re incredibly happy.

“With the international stuff now behind me as well, I feel like I can give back to a club that has given me so much and be available for selection as much as possible.”

Primarily that means helping Glasgow recover from the weekend defeat against La Rochelle in the two 1872 Cup games over the festive season, the first on Saturday at Scotstoun.

“We know where we are in both tables, in Europe and domestic. It is massively important to us to get a shift, especially back here at home.

“I think the extra spice of the derby games will help.

“We are all keen as a playing group to start righting some wrongs and deliver performances we’re capable of. There’s no better way to do that than on the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Warriors back-rower Matt Fagerson will learn how long a ban he faces following his La Rochelle red card on Thursday.

The Scotland forward was sent off after he struck Dany Priso in the face with his forearm while trying to fend off the opposition prop during their Heineken Champions Cup clash.

Fagerson is to attend a hearing in London, where the starting punishment will be a two-week penalty, meaning the 21-year-old would be ruled out of both legs of this month’s Guinness PRO14 double header with Edinburgh.