Warrior Richie targets Scotland return
RICHIE Gray is aiming for a Scotland recall following his return to Glasgow Warriors after eight years playing his club rugby in France and England.
The last of his 66 caps came in March 2018. Since then he has had injury problems and turned down the opportunity to join the World Cup training squad last summer soon after the birth of his child.
After arriving home on a two-year deal from Toulouse, Gray, 30, said: “The desire is always there to play for your country.
“I have had discussions with (Scotland head coach) Gregor Townsend since the World Cup and he was very understanding about why I wasn’t at the World Cup and he left the door open.
“I am available and those conversations will happen over the next few months, but first and foremost I have to focus on Glasgow and making a good impression,” added Gray, with Scotland’s next game potentially a re-arranged Six Nations match with Wales in October.
With Gray’s younger brother Jonny having left Glasgow for Exeter Chiefs, Gray backs Scott Cummings to fill the gap in the Warriors boiler room.
While disappointed that he will not be lining up with Johnny, Gray feels that 23-year-old Cummings is a player who will keep getting better and better.
“I think Scott is a fantastic player, I have been really impressed by him,” said Gray, who was a British & Irish Lions tourist in 2013.
“The thing that stands out to me about Scott is that for a second row he hits some of the best lines off the scrum-half I have seen in a long time.
“The pace he is able to generate and the gaps he is able to exploit are great and he has scored a few tries. He is a very good player and I’ve been impressed by him.”
Along with Fijian magician Leone Nakarawa, the Warriors have three top class locks to fight it out under new head coach Danny Wilson.
Gray added: “What a player Leone is. He can play all across the back five of the scrum and whenever I was up against him at Toulouse and he was at Racing he was impossible to play against. There is real competition for places here.”